Main Article Content

Abstract

A national cross-sectional survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of anaemia, micronutrient deficiencies, haemoglobin disorders and over- and undernutrition in children and women of reproductive age in Oman. Wasting and stunting were found in 9.3% and 11.4% of children aged 0–59 months, respectively, while 4.2% were overweight or obese. In addition, 23.8% were anaemic and 10.2%, 9.5% and 10.6% had iron, vitamin A and vitamin D deficiencies, respectively. Sickle cell and β-thalassaemia genetic traits were present in 5.3% and 4.2% of children and 4.7% and 2.8% of women, respectively. Overall, 9.1% of Omani women were underweight and 59.2% were overweight or obese. The prevalence of anaemia was 27.8%, while iron, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiencies affected 24.8%, 11.6%, 8.9% and 16.2%, respectively. Anaemia among both children and women and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in women are the most concerning nutritional problems in Oman.

Keywords: Nutrition Disorders; Malnutrition; Micronutrients; Iron-Deficiency Anemia; Avitaminosis; Vitamin D Deficiency; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency; Oman.

Article Details

How to Cite
Petry, N., Al-Maamary, S. A., Woodruff, B. A., Alghannami, S., Al-Shammakhi, S. M., Al-Ghammari, I. K., Tyler, V., Rohner, F., & Wirth, J. P. (2020). National Prevalence of Micronutrient Deficiencies, Anaemia, Genetic Blood Disorders and Over- and Undernutrition in Omani Women of Reproductive Age and Preschool Children. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 20(2), e151–164. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2020.20.02.005