Analysis of the nutritional status in the Palestinian territory: a review study

Frontiers in Nutrition

Nutrition

Haleama Al Sabbah¹  Enas A. Assaf²  Ayoub Al-Jawadleh³ 

[1] Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates;Faculty of Nursing, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan;World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt;

关键词: Palestine;    nutritional status;    obesity;    exclusive breastfeeding;    stunting;    wasting;    anemia;    vitamin D deficiency;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnut.2023.1206090

 received in 2023-04-14, accepted in 2023-06-19,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundFood insecurity, occupation, and poverty contribute to the poor nutritional status of Palestine. This review study aimed to analyze the nutritional status in the Palestinian Territory by analyzing published data from 2011 to 2023.MethodSearching for relevant publications yielded 67 studies. Based on reviewing these studies, five major themes were identified: low birth weight, breastfeeding, obesity and overweight, protein-energy malnutrition, and micronutrient deficiency.ResultsBased on the review of these studies, five major themes were identified, namely, low birth weight, breastfeeding, obesity and overweight, protein-energy malnutrition, and micronutrient deficiency. Based on the literature, the prevalence rate of exclusive breastfeeding was 24.4% in the Gaza Strip, compared to a national rate of 39.9% in 2020. Smoking, anemia in mothers, diet during pregnancy, and indoor pollution were associated with low birth weight. One-fifth of the boys and girls were stunted by 2 years of age in the Gaza Strip, and girls were more stunted than boys. The prevalence rates of underweight, overweight, and obesity among school children in the West Bank were 7.3%, 14.5%, and 15.7%, respectively. Age, gender, and living area were significant predictors of being overweight among school children. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity among adults in Palestine were 57.8% and 26.8%, respectively. Obesity is associated with a family history, chronic diseases, and low physical activity among adults. Exclusive breastfeeding was below the WHO recommendations, while significant rates of obesity and overweight were found among children and adults. Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) among pregnant women and children remains a challenging public health issue, while other micronutrient deficiencies are high among children.ConclusionThis review emphasizes the need for multi-sectoral interventions to address malnutrition and nutritional shifts. It identifies gaps and addresses nutrition-related issues in the Palestinian Territory, which can serve as a basis for guiding United Nations agencies and governments in formulating evidence-based policies and strategies for prioritizing nutritional interventions to meet sustainable development goals.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 A. Assaf, Al Sabbah and Al-Jawadleh.