Jordan

SUMMARY

Jordan is an Arab state situated on the east bank of the Jordan River. Jordan has borders with Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Palestine. The population density is concentrated in the governorates of the middle region (where the capital Amman is located) and the northern region.

Wheat is the staple food of Jordanian people. The major percentage of energy comes from cereals. Fresh fruits and vegetables constitute the next largest volume of food consumed. The animal products contribute to more than one third of protein. The intake of sweeteners has a relatively high contribution of total energy (DOS, 1992; 1997; FAOSTAT, 2002).

The total expenditure that is spent on food is higher for the poor (48%) compared to 42% for the non-poor. Under the social welfare policies and programmes, the government has implemented a series of programmes aimed at poverty alleviation by providing a better source of income to the poor and the unemployed (UN Resident Coordinator, 2002).

More than 95% of Jordanian mothers breast-feed their children in the first 3 months, 85% breast-feed until age 6 month and 69% breast-feed for 7-9 months (MOH, 1993b).

There has been an improvement in the nutritional status of children less than five years of age from 1991 to 1997 at the national level. According to the most recent studies, stunting, wasting and underweight among children less than five years old are considered to be low according to WHO standards (DOS, 1998b). However, data at the governorate level shows a high prevalence of stunting in Mafraq for males and a medium prevalence of stunting in Mafraq and Tefeeleh for females (MOH, 1993b).

Overweight does not appear to be a problem among children and adolescents. However, a recent sub-national study, in the governorate of Amman, found that more than one quarter of women (20 to 25 years) were either overweight or obese (BMI>25 kg/m2)(Ahmad et al., 2002).

Iodine deficiency is a serious problem among Jordanian children. One-third of school children, aged 8-10 years, have goitre (TGR) with differences between governorates (MOH, 2001). Plus, more than one quarter of women (15 to 49 years) have haemoglobin levels below 12 g/dL with prevalences varying according to age and governorate. Vitamin A deficiency is not a serious health problem.

The majority of births take place in hospitals and virtually all children of 12-23 months age are vaccinated against DPT and polio. Infant mortality rate and the under five mortality rate are relatively low, and maternal mortality rate has decreased. The average life expectancy for both males and females has increased to 71 years. Infectious diseases are moderate with varying degrees in the governorates (MOH, 2001).