Abstract
BackgroundVitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable visual impairments in children. It is also an underlying cause for nearly one-fourth of global child mortality associated with measles, diarrhea, and malaria. The limited literature available in Ethiopia shows severe public health significance of vitamin-A deficiency. Hence the aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence and factors determining vitamin-A deficiency among preschool children in Dembia District, northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among preschool children of Dembia District from January to February, 2015. A multi-stage sampling, followed by a systematic sampling technique was employed to select study participants. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Using a binary logistic regression model, multivariable analysis was fitted to identify the associated factors of vitamin-A deficiency. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95 % confidence interval was computed to assess the strength of the association, and variables with a p value of <0.05 in multivariable analysis were considered as statistically significant.ResultsSix hundred eighty-one preschool children were included in the study, giving a response rate of 96.5 %. The overall prevalence of xerophthalmia was 8.6 %. The result of the multivariable analysis revealed that nonattendance at the antenatal care clinic [AOR 2.65,95 % CI (1.39,5.07)], being male [AOR 1.81, 95 % CI (1.01,3.24)], and in the age group of 49–59 months [AOR 3.00, 95 % CI (1.49,6.02)] were significantly associated with vitamin-A deficiency.ConclusionsVitamin-A deficiency is a severe public health problem in the study area. Further strengthening antenatal care utilization and giving emphasis to preschool children will help to mitigate vitamin-A deficiency in the study area.
Highlights
Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable visual impairments in children
The consequence of vitamin-A deficiency (VAD) is magnified by poverty and the higher prevalence of infectious diseases [4] and it is an underlying cause for nearly one-fourth of global child mortality from measles, diarrhea, and malaria [5]
Though VAD is a multi-casual disorder, episodes of severe disease [8,9,10], poor dietary intake of protein and vitamin-A rich food [10], lack of vitamin-A supplementation, poor immunization status, poor maternal awareness about vitamin-A and high parity [8, 9], poor maternal education, socioeconomic status and sanitary practice, male sex, and nutritional stunting [11, 12] were some of the factors significantly associated with it
Summary
Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable visual impairments in children It is an underlying cause for nearly one-fourth of global child mortality associated with measles, diarrhea, and malaria. The consequence of VAD is magnified by poverty and the higher prevalence of infectious diseases [4] and it is an underlying cause for nearly one-fourth of global child mortality from measles, diarrhea, and malaria [5] This mortality risk worsens among children born in SubSaharan African countries, which face 16.5 and 1.8 times higher probability of dying before the age of 5 years compared to children born in developed regions and Southern Asia, respectively [6]. Though VAD is a multi-casual disorder, episodes of severe disease [8,9,10], poor dietary intake of protein and vitamin-A rich food [10], lack of vitamin-A supplementation, poor immunization status, poor maternal awareness about vitamin-A and high parity [8, 9], poor maternal education, socioeconomic status and sanitary practice, male sex, and nutritional stunting [11, 12] were some of the factors significantly associated with it
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