A cross-sectional survey of the growth and nutrition of the Bedouin of the South Sinai Peninsula.

A total of 271 Bedouin, 140 of them younger than 16 years and 110 of them female, were examined as part of a health survey. The Bedouin of the southern Sinai showed evidence of stunted growth. Sixty-six subjects (24 female) were clinically anaemic. This might have been nutritional or secondary to giardiasis. Simple nutritional strategies to increase the protein and iron content of the diet might help to prevent these problems. Twenty Bedouin had sensorineural hearing loss that was thought to be autosomal recessive in one family grouping. In addition, ten adults had had an uvulectomy, a traditional means of thirst quenching.