Abstract
Background: Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. It comes retinol from animal sources or beta-carotene from plant source. Vitamin A contains breast milk after the post-weaning period and their increased nutrient demand of children from 6-59 months, they are considered highly affected segments of the community. Hence, study assesses vitamin A deficiency and associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in Dera district, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional study design was conducted via multistage sampling techniques. Data were coded and entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for analysis. The bivariate and multiple variable logistic regression analyses were fitted. Results: Total response rate 94.7%. Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among children age from 6-59 months was 7.8% (95% CI: 4.7, 11.3). Anti natal care (ANC) follow-up (AOR =0.446:95 % CI; 0.155, 0.980), and birth interval (AOR= 0.392: 95 % CI; 0.107, 0.839), reduces the odds of developing vitamin A deficiency; whereas age group of 36–47 months (AOR= 1.911: 95 % CI; 1.305, 11.969) increases the odds of its deficiency. Conclusion: Age of children, birth interval, ANC follow-up, Post natal care (PNC) follow-up, and place of residence were associated factors for vitamin A deficiency. Therefore more efforts should be encouraged to produce and purchase a variety of foods rich in vitamin A.
Highlights
The various stages of xerophthalmia are regarded both as disorders and clinical indicators of vitamin A deficiency.Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is among the top 10 risk factors contributing to the global burden of disease among preschool-age children in resource-limited countries [1, 2]. (Globally, around 33.3 % of preschool-age children (One third (190 million) of the world‘s preschool children) were Vitamin A deficient, and 15.3% of pregnant women in populations at risk of VAD
The current study finding was higher than the study done in Mali 5.4% and the reports of WHO cut off point,1.56 % [23, 24].The discrepancy might be due to the existence of differences in the socio-economic status of the study area, living condition, lack of adequate dietary diversity (11.1%) and lack of maternal literacy in the study area (18.6%) [25]
This study identified that the age of children, birth interval, antenatal care, and postnatal care were factors significantly associated with vitamin A deficiency
Summary
Study assesses vitamin A deficiency and associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in Dera district, Northwest Ethiopia. Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) can be defined clinically or subclinically. The various stages of xerophthalmia are regarded both as disorders and clinical indicators of vitamin A deficiency.VAD is among the top 10 risk factors contributing to the global burden of disease among preschool-age children in resource-limited countries [1, 2]. (Globally, around 33.3 % of preschool-age children (One third (190 million) of the world‘s preschool children) were Vitamin A deficient, and 15.3% of pregnant women in populations at risk of VAD. An estimated 44.4% of preschool children in Africa (56.4 million children) are vitamin A deficient and are supposed to contribute to over 1 million childhood deaths a year [3, 4]. Recent reviews showed that the sub-Saharan Africa region has the highest rate of VAD (48%) prevalence in children
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
