High prevalence rates of anemia, vitamin A deficiency and stunting imperil the health status of Bedouin schoolchildren in North Badia, Jordan.
OBJECTIVE
This survey aimed to identify nutritional deficits affecting Bedouin children as they enter school age and illustrate their families' dietary consumption patterns.


METHODS
560 healthy schoolchildren aged 5.5-10 years from 8 Badia hamlets were nutritionally investigated by applying anthropometric, laboratory and dietary assessment methods.


RESULTS
Mean and median serum retinol concentrations (SRCs) were 228 and 218 microg/l, respectively. Mean prevalence of nutritional deficits among children were stunting (23.4%), anemia (57.5%), vitamin A deficiency (29.5%), iron deficiency (28.4%), and vitamin E deficiency (17.1%). Including those with borderline values, the proportion of children vulnerable to VAD threats reached 90%. Compared to normal subjects, anemic children had lower SRC (207 vs. 233 microg/l; p < 0.001) and ferritin (9.6 vs. 11.3 microg/l; p < 0.001) levels; stunted children had lower serum vitamin E (6.5 vs. 7.3 mg/l; p < 0.001) and ferritin (10.3 vs. 11.1 microg/l; p < 0.001) levels; vitamin A-deficient children had lower hemoglobin (11.3 vs. 11.8 g/dl; p < 0.001), serum vitamin E (6.69 vs. 7.23 mg/l; p < 0.01), and serum ferritin (10.4 vs. 11.2 microg/l; p < 0.001) levels, and vitamin E-deficient subjects had lower SRC levels (206 vs. 232 microg/l; p < 0.001). Except for hemoglobin status, no significant differences between genders were detected. SRC correlated strongly with hemoglobin, vitamin E, BMI and serum ferritin. The frequency of consumption of meat and fats seemed to be among the determinants of SRC and hemoglobin values.


CONCLUSIONS
Urbanization has brought Bedouins towards poverty and undernutrition, with older children suffering more severe consequences in comparison with preschool-age children. This multifaceted nutritional problem requires implementation of multicomponent interventions.
Khatib
Ibrahim M D
IM
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. khatibmd@orange.jo
Elmadfa
Ibrahim
I
D000375:Aging; D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology
D004041:Dietary Fats