15.8 per cent of men in Oman use tobacco products: Survey
One of the key stats to come out of the survey was that 15.8 per cent of men in Oman used tobacco products, thereby causing significant harm to their health.
In addition, while only 6.3 per cent of Omanis smoked, the number was far higher among non-Omanis, of whom 14.2 per cent admitted to using them. Only 0.5 per cent of women in the survey said they used tobacco products.
Some 33 per cent of people who smoke in Oman have also been advised by their doctors to quit smoking due to the adverse health effects it could have. About twofifths of the population (39.6 per cent) either lacked physical activity or didn’t exercise enough, while only 33.3 per cent of people suffering from high blood pressure took medication.
Al Saidi added, “The implementation of the National Health Survey of noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors, which establishes a database that is a reference for all concerned and specialists, is primarily aimed at building a healthy society that is aware that health is the responsibility of each of its members before it is the responsibility of the stakeholders.
In terms of nutrition, the survey also revealed that three-fifths of the population (60.7 per cent) didn’t eat enough fruit and vegetables, while nearly the entire population also has almost twice the dietary salt intake of five grams a day, with the average consumption at around 8.55 grams a day. Some 35.5 per cent of the population was found to have raised blood cholesterol, on the basis of the sample survey.
In this context, Dr Adhra bint Hilal Al Mawali, the Director of the Studies and Research Centre at the Ministry of Health, said, “The national non-communicable disease surveillance survey is a simple and standard method for collecting, analysing and disseminating data, as protocols and standard questions allow countries to use national survey data not only to regularly monitor the direction of indicators at the national level, and even to compare them at the regional and international levels. This survey data is a key indicator used to control and prevent NCDs globally.”
“The MoH is launching today the most up-to-date and comprehensive data on the status of the NCDs risk factors in the Sultanate,” added Dr Akjemal Magtymova, Oman’s WHO representative to the country.
“The step-wise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) is a simple, standardised method for collecting, analysing and disseminating data. The STEPS information relates to key factors, used globally, to prevent and control the burden of NCDs.”