Authors: Azza Abul-Fadl Azza, Al-Jawaldeh Ayoub.
Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global problem and in particular in the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR).
Aim: To identify risk factors linked to nutritional indices associated with DM in the EMR.
Methods: Collection and analysis of regional data from the WHO Framework of EMR information systems for the 22 countries of EMR. Data of deaths noncommunicable disease (NCD), early discontinuation of breastfeeding and indicators of DM were correlated with raised blood sugar (RBG) and obesity, Sustainable Development Goals Index (SDGI), illiteracy rates and total fertility rates (TFR), life expectancy, low birth weight (LBW), stunting, wasting and anaemia in children under five of age (CU5), neonatal mortality, deaths from exposure to ambient air pollution (AAP) and nutritional anemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women and maternal mortality ratio (MMR).
Results: Early discontinuation of breastfeeding was influenced by income status and NCD. RBG correlated highly with obesity and overweight in adults (r0.8 p=0.0001), NMR (r0.6), p=0.002, MMR (r0.7), p=0.0001, stunting in CU5 (r-0.5, p=0.02, anemia in CU5 (r-0.4), p= 0.05 and TFR (r0.6), p=P<005. Overweight and obesity correlated highly with illiteracy (r0.6), p=0.01, TFR and SDGI p<0.001. They correlated highly with feeding practices especially duration of breastfeeding to 24 months, nutritional indices in mother and child including anaemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women, stunting, wasting and underweight. They also correlated significantly with NMR and MMR and deaths from exposure to AAP.
Conclusion: Early discontinuation of breastfeeding may be an underlying factor for risk factors for NCD and DM. Investing in improving early feeding practices can reduce the rising expenditure on NCD in the region.
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