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Implementation of the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study in Oman.
Food and Nutrition Bulletin
|April 9, 2004
Summary
Children in Muscat experienced unconstrained growth when household income was at least 800 Omani Rials and mothers had four years of education. This finding is from the World Health Organization (WHO) Multicentre Growth Study (MGRS).
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Growth Monitoring
Background:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) Multicentre Growth Study (MGRS) established a Middle East site in Muscat, Oman.
- Understanding factors influencing child growth is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify socioeconomic determinants of unconstrained child growth in Muscat.
- To report on the implementation of the MGRS protocol in the Muscat site.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal sample recruited from major Muscat hospitals; cross-sectional sample from the national Child Health Register.
- Inclusion criteria encompassed residents within the hospitals' catchment areas, excluding remote districts.
- Data collection involved overcoming challenges such as high refusal rates and adherence to feeding protocols.
Main Results:
- Children from households with monthly incomes of at least 800 Omani Rials and mothers with at least four years of education exhibited unconstrained growth.
- Successful implementation of the MGRS protocol was achieved despite site-specific challenges.
Conclusions:
- Socioeconomic factors, specifically household income and maternal education, are significant predictors of unconstrained child growth in Muscat.
- Effective team building and public relations strategies were vital for overcoming logistical and cultural challenges in the MGRS Muscat site.