Title of article
Ongoing deterioration of the nutritional status of Palestinian preschool children in Gaza under the Israeli siege
Author/Authors
Radi, S.M. Ministry of Health - Planning and Policy Making Unit, Palestine , El-Sayed, N.A. University of Alexandria - High Institute of Public Health - Department of Nutrition, Egypt , Nofal, L.M. University of Alexandria - High Institute of Public Health - Department of Biostatistics, Egypt , Abdeen, Z.A. Al-Quds University - Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Palestine
From page
234
To page
241
Abstract
This cross-sectional, community-based, household survey was carried out in Gaza City, Palestine during the first half of 2009 to study the nutritional status of Palestinian preschool children aged 2–5 years under blockade. The response rate was 95.2% from a total sample of 770. The majority (94.4%) of households faced difficulties accessing food, the main cause was the siege and the shortage of food products; and the majority (85.5%) were food insecure households. Just over 50% of the preschoolers were anaemic, 26.8% of those who had a stool test had parasitic infections, and 15.0 were stunted. Food insecurity was the first predictor of stunting and underweight, and malnutrition indicators indicate the worst situation in the Gaza Strip for several decades.
Journal title
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal
Journal title
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal
Record number
2643696
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