Nutrition and Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Survey
This is a national study of non-communicable disease risk factors in Lebanon. The study was conducted in 2009 in response to the growing need for country-level information on cardiovascular diseases and risk factors.
Using adapted standardized questions and protocols, the study followed the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance of non-communicable disease risk factors: questionnaires, physical measurements (anthropometry and blood pressure) and biochemical measurements. In the first step, a nationally representative sample of the Lebanese Population of both sexes was drawn from randomly selected households based on area probability multi-stage sampling. One adult from each household was selected from the household roster excluding pregnant and lactating women. Also subjects with mental disabilities or learning difficulties were excluded. The final sample included 3,654 subjects (477 children aged between 5 and 12 years, 341 adolescents aged between 13 and 17 years, and 2,836 adult ≥ 18 years (with 441 being aged ≥ 60 years old). Interviews were conducted using a comprehensive questionnaire covering information on socio-demographic characteristics, tobacco and alcohol use, dietary intake, physical activity pattern, general health status and health seeking behavior. Using internationally standardized guidelines, anthropometric measures were taken from all subjects aged ≥ 13 years (3,077). Biochemical analyses were confined to a purposive sample of 373 subjects aged ≥ 18 years.
The study was funded by the Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions
Network (TEPHINET) as the lead organization in collaboration with the CDC. Additional funds were contributed by the World Health organization (WHO-Lebanon) and the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (LNCSR).
For more information, you may contact the Principal Investigators of the study:
Dr. Abla Mehio Sibai
Professor
Faculty of Health Sciences
American University of Beirut (AUB)
Beirut - Lebanon
Tel : 00-961-1-350000 extension: 4640
Email: am00@aub.edu.lb
Dr. Nahla Hwalla
Professor
Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences
American University of Beirut (AUB)
Beirut - Lebanon
Tel : 00-961-1-350000 extension: 4400
Email: nahla@aub.edu.lb
Description:
The Pan Arab Project for Family Health (PAPFAM) embraces several cross-country national studies in the Arab Region, using, for the first time, similar survey methodologies and interview schedule templates.
The PAPFAM study consists of a baseline household survey and additional specialized modules on ‘Child Health’, ‘Reproductive Health’ and ‘Older Adults’. In this project, the family is realized as the primary social unit and is perceived and studied within its wider dimension. The baseline household surveys have been conducted in 10 Arab countries in the MENA region (Algeria, Djibouti, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen) and the older adults’ module in four localities: Algeria, Lebanon, Palestine, and the Palestinian Camps in Lebanon. The PAPFAM included core standardized questions used in all surveys, guaranteeing a cross country comparative assessment, and additional complementary questions adapted and placed into context by each locality and country according to need.
The PAPFAM is hosted by the League of Arab States (LAS), and is maintained by a Higher Steering Committee with membership of the Secretary General of the LAS and heads of several executive boards of UN agencies. It is funded by the Arabian Gulf Fund (AGFUND) and UNFPA, among others. The aim of the PAPFAM is to enable Ministries of Health and other national agencies in the Arab region to obtain a timely and integrated flow of information for formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating health policies and programs.
CSA hosts the following data sets:
Household survey data for Lebanon and Algeria.
Older adult data for Lebanon, Algeria and Palestine.
Algeria: The Algerian Family Health Survey (AFHS) was conducted by the National Office of Statistics in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Pan Arab Project for Family Health. The AFHS is a nationally representative sample and was carried out in 2002. The AFHS sample covered 3958 elderly aged 60 years and above.
Lebanon: The Lebanese Family Health Survey (LFHS) was conducted by the Statistics Central Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Pan Arab Project for Family Health. The LFHS is a nationally representative sample and was carried out in 2004. The LFHS sample covered 1774 elderly aged 65 years and above.
Palestine: The Palestinian Family Health Survey (PFHS) was conducted by Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the Pan Arab Project for Family Health. The PFHS is a nationally representative sample and was carried out in 2006. The PFHS sample covered 1,655 elderly aged 60 years and above.
For access to the data sets, you may contact Dr. Ahmad Abdel Monem, Professor in Demography and the Project Manager of the PAPFAM
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