Compliance to micronutrient supplementation in children 3 to 24 months of age from a semi-rural community in Mexico

Abstract

To identify associated factors to compliance for multiple micronutrient (MM) or iron and vitamin A (IVITA) supplementation, in children (3 to 24 months old). A database (n=465 children) from a randomized, controlled, clinical trial, carried out in a semi-rural setting in Mexico, was analyzed. The compliance rate of MM and IVITA supplements was calculated. Adequate compliance rate (AC>80%), and its association with children and households characteristics, was determined. The compliance mean was high (MM:78.2%, IVITA:80.1%; p<0.05). The odds of AC were 59% greater in the children of IVITA than with MM group, although the estimate was only marginally significant (p=0.052). Maternal education (p<0.001), child birth weight (p=0.003), and children with cough (p<0.001) or fever (p=0.024) were significantly associated with AC and significantly marginal was maternal indigenous (p=0.071). The high AC was consistent with others efficacy studies. More research is needed to document physiological, cultural, social and operative factors affecting compliance with supplementation.