Micronutrient status in Jordan: 2002 and 2010

Area of Science:

• Public Health Nutrition
• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Maternal and Child Health

Background:

• Micronutrient deficiencies pose significant public health challenges globally.
• Understanding trends in micronutrient status is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess micronutrient status in Jordanian women and children in 2010.
• To compare the prevalence of anemia, iron, and folate deficiencies in 2010 with 2002 data.

Main Methods:

• Nationally representative surveys conducted in Jordan in 2002 and 2010.
• Blood samples analyzed for hemoglobin, ferritin, and red blood cell folate levels.
• Included 1023 women and 1059 children in 2002; 2035 women and 940 children in 2010.

Main Results:

• In 2010, 13.6% of women had folate deficiency and 82.9% had folate insufficiency.
• Iron deficiency and anemia prevalence did not significantly change in women between surveys.
• Children showed a significant decrease in iron deficiency (13.7% in 2010 vs. 26.2% in 2002) and iron deficiency anemia (4.8% vs. 10.1%).

Conclusions:

• Folate deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent among Jordanian women, impacting neural tube defect prevention.
• Significant improvements in iron status were observed in children, but not in women.
• Continued monitoring and targeted interventions are necessary for both populations.