Jordan National Micronutrient and Nutrition Survey 2019

The latest Jordan National Micronutrient and Nutrition Survey (JNMNS) reveals insights about the current prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies among the Jordan settled population, as well as in the Syrian refugee population in Jordan, including pre-school children, school children, non-preganant and pregnant women.

The analysis includes a comparison of results with the previous nutrition survey from 2010. Giving conclusions to indicate the today’s nutritional status in Jordan based in this comparison is, to some degree, challenging and limiting, due for example to differences in research samples and methods, and economic, demographic and contextual changes in the past ten years. Nonetheless, these are some of the JNMNS’s remarks as high points of concern:

Vitamin D deficiency remaining at high levels since 2010:

-Almost 2/3 of Jordan pre-school children (0-5 old) have sub-optimal vitamin D levels and vitamin D deficiency is currently prevalent in almost half of school-age children.

-Almost half of Syrian refugee children (pre-school and school-age) have sub-optimal vitamin D levels, the majority being insuficient.

-More than 80% of Jordan-settled non-pregnant women settled in Jordan have also sub-optimal vitamin D status, while 2/3 of Syrian female refugees in Jordan are vitamin D deficient and 90% have sub-optimal levels.

Iron deficiency has increased:

-Iron deficiency affects 25% of Jordan-settled children 0-4 age, being highly concerning due to its association with impaired cognitive development even in the absence of anemia.

-Although anemia prevalence has declined in the last decade in Jordan-settled pre-school children and non-pregnant women, the prevalence of iron deficiency has increased. Currently, 25% of non-pregnant women settled in Jordan are anemic, with iron deficiency as it main driver.

-Anemia among pre-school children remains higher in Syrian refugees than in Jordan settled population. Overall, iron deficiency occurs in almost 4 in 10 pre-school children in the camps, and over half of the anemia can be ascribed to iron deficiency.

Moreover, obesity and overweight are concerning just as much as in school-age children as in female population, especially among the Jordan-settled individuals.

Source: Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WFP, Jordan Health Aid Society International, Department of Statistics, Biolab, GroundWork. Jordan National Micronutrient and Nutritional Survey 2019. Amman, Jordan; 2021.