Clinical vitamin-A deficiency and associated factors among pregnant and lactating women in Northwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Abebaw Baytekus,Amare Tariku,Ayal Debie

doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2663-2

Abebaw Baytekus, Amare Tariku + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2663-2

Copy DOI

Abstract

BackgroundVitamin A deficiency is known for its adverse health consequences, such as blindness, growth retardation and death. To curb the problem, Ethiopia has implemented various public health measures although little has been done to examine the deficiency among pregnant and lactating women. As a result, this study assessed the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency and associated factors among pregnant and lactating women in Lay Armachiho district, northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant and lactating women in Lay Arimachiho district, northwest Ethiopia, using the multistage systematic sampling technique to select participants. The binary logistic regression model was fitted to test the effect of exposure variables, and the Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and p-value < 0.05 were computed to identify the significance and the strength of the associations of variables with Vitamin A deficiency.ResultsThe study revealed that 13.7% of the pregnant and lactating women had night blindness and 0.4% had also Bitot’s Spot. Over 35 years of age of mothers (AOR = 2.74; 95%CI: 1.15,7.43), less than USD 22.7 household monthly income (AOR = 8.9; 95%CI: 4.54,21.73), and poor hand washing practices after toilets (AOR = 8.87; 95% CI: 4.43,18.68) were positively associated with VAD, while mothers’ access to the media (AOR = 0.20; 95%CI:0.07, 0.59), formal education (AOR = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.41), over 18 years of age at first marriage (AOR = 0.19; 95%CI: 0.08,0.36), and no fasting (AOR = 0.14; 95%CI: 0.04,0.46) were negatively associated.ConclusionsMaternal Vitamin A deficiency was the major public health problem in Lay Armachiho district. Over 35 years of age of mothers, less than USD 22.7 household monthly income and poor hand washing practices after toilets were high risks for VAD, while mothers’ access to the media, formal education, over 18 years at first marriage, and no fasting were low risks. Therefore, community awareness about the risk of early marriage, poor hand hygiene practices after toilets, and fasting during pregnancy and lactating period were essential. Organizations working on maternal health need to focus on mothers with low incomes in order to reduce their deficiency in Vitamin A.

Highlights

Vitamin A deficiency is known for its adverse health consequences, such as blindness, growth retardation and death
The problem is common among children, pregnant and lactating mothers whose the requirement for vitamin-A is high because they need to compensate for their execessive physiological demand [5]
Maternal Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) is considered as a public health problem if ≥5% or 0.5% of the mothers are affected with night blindness (XN) or Bitot’s Spot (X1B), respectively

Summary

Introduction

Vitamin A deficiency is known for its adverse health consequences, such as blindness, growth retardation and death. Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) is a major public health problem worldwide and a known cause of blindness, growth retardation and death, specially in developing countries [1]. It may cause infertility,miscarriage, dry skin and hair as well as gastroenteritis, throat and chest infections [2,3,4]. Maternal VAD is considered as a public health problem if ≥5% or 0.5% of the mothers are affected with night blindness (XN) or Bitot’s Spot (X1B), respectively. Low socio-economic status and impaired health conditions and dietary intake are commonly reported attributes of maternal VAD [8,9,10,11,12,13,14]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion