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. 2022 Jun 2;22(1):326.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-022-03389-w.

Aflatoxin exposure among children of age 12-59 Months in Butajira District, South-Central Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Mary Ayele  1 , Demewoz Haile  2 , Silvia Alonso  3 , Heven Sime  4 , Adugna Abera  4 , Kifle Habte Balcha  5 , Kedir Teji Roba  6 , Geremew Tasew Guma  4 , Bilal Shikur Endris  2
Affiliations

Aflatoxin exposure among children of age 12-59 Months in Butajira District, South-Central Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Mary Ayele et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: The continued provision of safe food, free of aflatoxin remains a huge challenge in developing countries. Despite several favourable climatic conditions that facilitate aflatoxin contamination in Ethiopia, there is little information showing aflatoxin exposure in children. Therefore, this study assessed aflatoxin exposure among young children in Butajira district, South-Central Ethiopia.

Methods: Community based cross-sectional study stratified by agro-ecology was employed in Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS) of Butajira. The study included 332 children aged 12-59 months and were selected by simple random sampling technique using the HDSS registration number as a sampling frame. We collected data on dietary practice and aflatoxin exposure. Aflatoxin M1 concentration in urine was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data analysis was carried out using STATA.

Results: Detectable urinary Aflatoxin M1 was found in 62.4% (95% CI: 56.9 - 67.5%) of the children at a level ranging from 0.15 to 0.4 ng/ml. Children living in lowland agro-ecological zone had [AOR = 2.11 (95% CI; 1.15, 3.88] odds of being exposed to aflatoxin as compared to children living in highland agro-ecological zone. Children at lower socio-economic status [AOR = 0.27 (95% CI; 0.14, 0.50] and medium socio-economic status [AOR = 0.47 (95% CI; 0.25, 0.87] had 73% and 53% lower odds of being exposed to aflatoxin as compared to children in the higher socio-economic status, respectively.

Conclusions: Aflatoxin exposure among young children was very high in South-Central Ethiopia. This high aflatoxin exposure might emphasize the need for aflatoxin exposure mitigation strategies in Ethiopia. Especially, raising awareness of the community towards aflatoxin exposure is very crucial. In addition, further research is required to assess long-term aflatoxin exposure and its association with child growth and development.

Keywords: Aflatoxin; Butajira; Children; Cross-sectional; Ethiopia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sampling procedure of children in Butajira HDSS, 2018
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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