Review of the Nutrition Situation in Jordan: Trends and Way Forward

Abstract

Jordan is witnessing an escalating pace of nutrition transition, which may be associated with an increased burden of malnutrition and related non-communicable diseases. This review analyzes the nutrition situation in Jordan by exploring specific nutrition indicators, namely infant and young child feeding, low birthweight, micronutrient deficiencies, anthropometric indicators, and food consumption patterns. Results showed that although most children were ever breastfed and early initiation of breastfeeding had a two-fold increasing trend, rates of exclusive breastfeeding below 6 months of age and continued breastfeeding until two years of age were low. Complementary feeding indicators, particularly minimum diet diversity and minimum acceptable diet standards, were suboptimal. An overall low burden of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under 5 years and remarkable progress in optimizing iodine status among school-aged children were reported. Conversely, the burden of low birthweight and overweight/obesity exacerbated, coexisting with anemia, vitamin A deficiency, and vitamin D deficiency. Overall, fruit and vegetable consumption were inadequate. The consumption of soft drinks and salt on the other hand was higher than recommended. This review acknowledges the double burden of malnutrition in Jordan and recommends the prioritization and evaluation of interventions towards improving the population’s nutritional status and achieving nutrition targets.

Iraq Is Moving Forward to Achieve Global Targets in Nutrition

“…This rate though, was higher than the global average of 5.7% and the average of Jordan (4.7%) but was close to the average rates of EMR (7.7%) [ 12 ].…”

“…Stunting in Iraq shows a lower value compared to the global average of 22% [ 12 ], also lower than the average for the Asia region (21.8%) [ 10 ], but higher than Jordan (7.7%) [ 12 ].…”

“…According to the prevalence thresholds of public health significance regarding overweight (WHO) and comparing results of overweight in CUF in Iraq between MICS4 2011 (p. 23) and MICS6 2018, the national standard declined from a high threshold to the medium category for this indicator [17,19,26]. This rate though, was higher than the global average of 5.7% and the average of Jordan (4.7%) but was close to the average rates of EMR (7.7%), [12].…”

“…LBW is defined as infants weighing <2500 g at birth regardless of gestational age [12]. Stunting and wasting, were defined as length/height-for-age Z score <−2 standard deviations (SD), weight-for-length/height Z score <−2 SD, respectively, in CUF [17].…”

“…It can be used as a tool for identifying the data gaps aiming to update the policies and required actions necessary for improving the nutrition situation in Iraq and highlighting the required interventions, to achieve the recommendations of the International Conference on Nutrition (ICN)-2, global targets for nutrition, NCDs, and Sustainable Development Goals [ 12 ].…”