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. 2016 Nov;19(16):3039-3047.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980016001294. Epub 2016 May 30.

Multiple micronutrients in powder delivered through primary health care reduce iron and vitamin A deficiencies in young Amazonian children

Cristieli Sm Oliveira  1 , Patrícia Sampaio  2 , Pascoal T Muniz  2 , Marly A Cardoso  1 ; ENFAC Working Group
Affiliations

Multiple micronutrients in powder delivered through primary health care reduce iron and vitamin A deficiencies in young Amazonian children

Cristieli Sm Oliveira et al. Public Health Nutr. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: We evaluated the effect of home fortification with multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) on anaemia and micronutrient status of young Amazonian children.

Design: A pragmatic controlled trial was performed. A control group (CG) of children aged 11-14 months was recruited in the routine of primary health-care centres for assessing anaemia and micronutrient status. At the same time, an intervention group (IG) of infants aged 6-8 months was recruited in the same health centres to receive MNP daily in complementary feeding for 2 months. The IG children were assessed 4-6 months after enrolment (n 112) when they had reached the age of the CG participants (n 128) for comparisons.

Setting: Primary health centres in Rio Branco city, Brazilian Amazon.

Subjects: A total of 240 children aged<2 years.

Results: In the CG, the prevalence of anaemia (Hb8·3 mg/l) and vitamin A deficiency (VAD; serum retinol <0·70 μmol/l) was 20·3 %, 72·4 % and 18·6 %, respectively. Among the IG participants (aged 11-14 months), the prevalence of anaemia, ID and VAD was 15·2 %, 25·2 % and 4·7 %, respectively. The IG had a lower likelihood of ID (prevalence ratio (95 % CI): 0·34 (0·24, 0·49)) and VAD (0·25 (0·09, 0·64)).

Conclusions: Home fortification of complementary feeding delivered through primary health care was effective in reducing iron and vitamin A deficiencies among young Amazonian children.

Keywords: Anaemia; Child health; Complementary feeding; Home fortification; Iron; Micronutrients; Primary health care; Vitamin A.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of study participants, Rio Branco, western Brazilian Amazon, 2012
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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