Open AccessIndividual, household and national factors associated with iron, vitamin A and zinc deficiencies among children aged 6–59 months in Nepal
Author(s) -
Chitekwe Stanley,
Parajuli Kedar Raj,
Paudyal Naveen,
Haag Karan Courtney,
Renzaho Andre,
Issaka Abukari,
Agho Kingsley
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/mcn.13305
Subject(s) - micronutrient , medicine , micronutrient deficiency , ferritin , iron deficiency , vitamin a deficiency , vitamin , environmental health , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , soluble transferrin receptor , malnutrition , vitamin b12 , retinol , anemia , iron status , pathology
Iron, vitamin A and zinc deficiencies are the top three micronutrients contributing to disability‐adjusted life years globally. The study assessed the factors associated with iron, vitamin A, and Zinc deficiencies among Nepalese children ( n = 1709) aged 6–59 months using data from the 2016 Nepal National Micronutrient Status Survey. The following cut‐off points were applied: iron deficiency [ferritin < 12 μg/L or soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) > 8.3 mg/L], vitamin A deficiency (retinol‐binding protein < 0.69 μmol/L) and zinc deficiency (serum zinc < 65 μg/dl for morning sample and <57 μg/dl for afternoon sample). We used multiple logistic regression adjusted for sampling weights and clustering to examine the predictors of micronutrient deficiencies. The prevalence of iron depletion (ferritin), tissue iron (sTfR), vitamin A and zinc deficiencies were 36.7%, 27.6%, 8.5% and 20.4%, respectively. Children were more likely to be iron deficient (ferritin) if aged 6–23 months, stunted, and in a middle‐wealth quintile household. Vitamin A deficiency was associated with development region and was higher among children living in severe food‐insecure households and those who did not consume fruits. Zinc deficiency was higher among children in rural areas and the poorest wealth quintile. The Government of Nepal should focus on addressing micronutrient deficiencies in the early years, with emphasis on improving food systems, promote healthy diets, among younger and stunted children and provide social cash transfer targeting high‐risk development regions, poorest and food insecure households.