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. 2016 Jun 24:9:323.
doi: 10.1186/s13104-016-2134-z.

Vitamin-A deficiency and its determinants among preschool children: a community based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia

Amare Tariku  1 , Abel Fekadu  2 , Ayanaw Tsega Ferede  3 , Solomon Mekonnen Abebe  4 , Akilew Awoke Adane  2
Affiliations

Vitamin-A deficiency and its determinants among preschool children: a community based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia

Amare Tariku et al. BMC Res Notes. .

Abstract

Background: Vitamin 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.

Methods: A 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.

Results: Six 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.

Conclusions: Vitamin-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.

Keywords: Determinants; Ethiopia; Preschool children; Xerophthalmia.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Proportion of preschool children who consumed food groups in the previous 24-h preceding the survey, Dembia District, northwest Ethiopia, 2015
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Prevalence of vitamin-A deficiency among preschool children in Dembia District, northwest Ethiopia, 2015
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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