Assessing risk factors for chronic disease--Jordan, 2004.

In 2003, chronic diseases were the leading cause of mortality in Jordan; 38.2% of deaths were attributed to cardiovascular disease and 14.3% to cancer (Jordan Ministry of Health [MOH], unpublished data, 2004). In 2002, MOH, with assistance from CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO), established a behavioral risk factor surveillance program to monitor risk factors associated with chronic diseases. This report summarizes the findings of the second Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, which was conducted in Jordan in 2004. The findings indicated that the prevalence of obesity had increased by 52.3% in Jordan since 2002. In addition, cancer screening rates among women and seatbelt use rates overall were low compared with U.S. rates. Development and implementation of a national plan to prevent and control chronic diseases is needed.