Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition and Sight and Life Global Nutrition Research Institute, 25802Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Department of Health, 108603United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Amman, Jordan.
Food Nutr Bull. 2020 Dec;41(4):503-511. doi: 10.1177/0379572120967819. Epub 2020 Nov 2.
Palestine refugees comprise the largest refugee population in the world, most of whom are encamped in Middle Eastern countries. In the Gaza Strip, where ∼1.4 million Palestinians reside, there are high prevalences of anemia and multiple micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs), including those of iron, zinc, vitamins A, B, D, and E, ranging from 11.4% to 84.7% among pregnant women and 2.9% to 70.9% among preschool children. Dietary diversification and adequate food fortification are framed in policies but remain aspirational goals. Alternative, effective, targeted preventive approaches include, for women, replacement of antenatal iron-folic acid with multiple micronutrient supplementation, and for young children, point-of-use multiple micronutrient powder fortification to prevent anemia, both of which can reduce other MNDs and may bring additional health benefits. These interventions coupled with monitoring of dietary intakes, periodic assessment of MNDs, and implementation research to improve existing nutrition interventions are warranted to protect the health of the Middle East Palestinian diaspora.
巴勒斯坦难民是世界上最大的难民群体,其中大多数人居住在中东国家。在约 140 万巴勒斯坦人居住的加沙地带,贫血症和多种微量营养素缺乏症(MND)的流行率很高,孕妇中缺铁、缺锌、维生素 A、B、D 和 E 的比例在 11.4%至 84.7%之间,学龄前儿童的比例在 2.9%至 70.9%之间。饮食多样化和充分的食物强化已纳入政策框架,但仍是一个理想目标。其他有效、有针对性的预防方法包括,为妇女提供产前铁叶酸替代物,用多种微量营养素补充剂代替,为幼儿提供即用型多种微量营养素粉末强化,以预防贫血,这两种方法都可以减少其他 MND,并可能带来额外的健康益处。这些干预措施加上监测饮食摄入、定期评估 MND 和实施研究以改善现有的营养干预措施,都是保护中东巴勒斯坦侨民健康所必需的。