title: Protein-energy malnutrition among preschool children in Oman: results of a national survey.
abstract: We assessed the prevalence of underweight, wasting and stunting among preschool children in Oman from March to December 1999. Within each region, samples of males and females in the age groups 0-5, 6-11, 12-23, 24-35, 36-47 and 48-60 months were drawn from the registers of health institutions and the weight and height/length of the children were measured. The total sample comprised 19,440 children; 9911 males and 9529 females. Data were analysed according to the World Health Organization protocols. The prevalence rates of wasting, stunting and underweight were 7.0%, 10.6% and 17.9% respectively at the national level. There were no sex differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman. omanmgrs@omantel.net.om
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alasfoor
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Elsayed
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Qasmi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malankar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sheth
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prakash
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology