BackgroundAnemia, which has many etiologies, is a moderate/severe public health problem in young children and women of reproductive age in many developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence of iron deficiency, anemia, and iron deficiency anemia using multiple biomarkers and to evaluate their association with food insecurity and food consumption patterns in non-pregnant women from a rural area of southern Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 202 rural women of reproductive age in southern Ethiopia. Anthropometrics and socio-demographic data were collected. A venipuncture blood sample was analyzed for hemoglobin (Hb) and for biomarkers of iron status. Biomarkers were skewed and were log transformed before analysis. Mean, median, Pearson’s correlations and ordinary least-squares regressions were calculated.ResultsMedian (IQR) Hb was 138 (127, 151) g/L. Based on an altitude-adjusted (1708 m) cutoff of 125 g/L for Hb, 21.3% were anemic. Plasma ferritin was <15 μg/L in 18.6% of the women. Only one woman had α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) >1.0 g/L; four women (2%) had > 5 mg/L of C-reactive protein (CRP). Of the 43 women who were anemic, 23.3% (10 women) had depleted iron stores based on plasma ferritin. Three of these had elevated soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR). Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was negatively correlated with sTfR (r = -0.24, p = 0.001), and positively correlated with ferritin (r = 0.17, p = 0.018), plasma iron (r = 0.15, p = 0.046), transferrin saturation (TfS) (r = 0.15, p = 0.04) and body iron (r = 0.14, p = 0.05). Overall prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was only 5%.ConclusionIron deficiency anemia was not prevalent in the study population, despite the fact that anemia would be classified as a moderate public health problem.

ObjectiveTo examine the contribution of child, maternal and household factors in stunting, wasting and underweight among children under 5 years in Ethiopia.DesignQuantitative cross-sectional design based on nationally representative data.SettingUrban and rural areas of Ethiopia.ParticipantsYounger (0–24 months; n 4199) and older age groups (25–59 months; n 5497), giving a total of 9696 children.ResultsAmong the younger age group, 29 % were stunted, 14 % were wasted and 19 % were underweight; and among the older age group, the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight was 47, 8 and 28 %, respectively. Being female, intake of multiple micronutrients, household having a piped source of drinking-water, high maternal BMI, higher household wealth and higher maternal education were associated with decreased odds of at least one form of undernutrition in both groups. On the other hand, children who were anaemic, had low birth weight, drank from a bottle, and children of stunted or wasted or working mothers were more likely to be stunted, wasted or underweight in both groups (P<0·05). While most predictors and/or risk factors followed a similar pattern across the two age groups, child factors had higher leverage in the younger than the older group across the three forms of undernutrition.ConclusionsMultiple set of factors predicted childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia. The study underscores the importance of intervening in the first 1000 days through promoting maternal education, maternal–child health services, mother’s nutrition and improving intrahousehold food distribution.

BackgroundMaternal iodine deficiency (ID) during pregnancy has been recognized as a major cause of abortion, stillbirth, congenital abnormalities, perinatal mortality and irreversible mental retardation. In Ethiopia limited information is available regarding the epidemiology of maternal ID. The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence of iodine deficiency and associated factors among pregnant women in Ada district, Oromia region, Ethiopia.MethodA community based, cross-sectional study was conducted in rural areas of Ada district, October to November, 2014. Data were collected from 356 pregnant women selected by multistage cluster sampling technique. Presence of goiter was examined by palpation and urinary iodine concentration was measured using inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry. Salt iodine concentration was determined using a digital electronic iodine checker. Statistical analysis was done primarily using binary logistic regression. The outputs of the analysis are presented using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the respective 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsThe median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 85.7 (interquartile range (IQR): 45.7–136) μg/L. Based on UIC, 77.6% (95% CI: 73.0–82.0%) of the study subjects had insufficient iodine intake (UIC < 150 μg/L). The goiter rate was 20.2% (95% CI: 16.0–24.0%). The median iodine concentration of the household salt samples was 12.2 (IQR: 6.9–23.8) ppm. Of the households, only 39.3% (95% CI: 34.0–44.0%) consumed adequately iodized salt (≥15 ppm). Prevalence of goiter was significantly higher among pregnant women aged 30–44 years (AOR = 2.32 (95% CI: 1.05–5.14)) than among younger women and among illiterate women (AOR = 2.71 (95% CI: 1.54–4.79)). Compared to nulliparous, women with parity of 1, 2 and 3 or more had 2.28 (95% CI: 1.01–5.16), 2.81 (95% CI: 1.17–6.74) and 4.41 (95% CI: 1.58–12.26) times higher risk of goiter.ConclusionIodine deficiency was a public health problem in the study area. This indicates the need for further strengthening of the existing salt iodization program in order to avail homogenously and adequately iodized salt. Also it is necessary to find ways to provide iodine supplements as needed until universal salt iodization (USI) is fully established.

Vitamin D insufficiency is a serious problem in the study population, and living near the Equator does not assure adequate vitamin D status.