Assessment of some selected micronutrients among women of reproductive age within urban and rural settings in Kano State

Abstract

Women of reproductive age (WRA) are prone to unbalance micronutrient status due to changes associated with normal physiological conditions such as menstruation, pregnancy and lactation. This study was done to assess some selected micronutrients among women of reproductive age within urban and rural settings in Kano state, Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 192 WRA (15-49 years) in 4 randomly selected LGAs in urban and rural settings each. Samples of blood and urine were collected to determine the levels of iron, iodine, vitamin A, folate and zinc using ELISA kit. Hemoglobin concentration was also determined using an automated analyzer. From the result obtained in the present study, serum retinol was found to be significantly different (p=0.008) whereas hemoglobin concentration (p=0.200), serum ferritin (p=0.226), urine iodine (p=0.141), serum folate (p=0.924) and serum zinc (p=0.410) had no significant difference between urban and rural participants. Iron deficiency anaemia (13.5%), iodine (29.2%) and zinc (33.3%) deficiencies have higher incidences in the urban areas whereas anaemia (26.0%), iron (46.9%), Vitamin A (34.4%) and folate (46.9%) deficiencies were higher in the rural areas. Our data suggest the need for public health sensitization and enlightenment such as dietary diversity, micronutrient fortification, and supplementation to lower the likelihood of widespread micronutrient deficiencies.