Characterization of micronutrient supplements use by Brazilian children 6-59 months of age: Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019)

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize micronutrient supplements use among Brazilian children 6-59 months of age included in the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019; n = 12,598). Micronutrient supplements use at the time of the interview and the 6 months prior to it was evaluated using a structured questionnaire. The following indicators were included: micronutrient supplement use; supplements containing a single micronutrient; supplements of the Brazilian National Iron Supplementation Program (PNSF); multivitamin supplements with or without minerals; multivitamin supplements with minerals; multivitamin supplements without minerals. The estimates and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated for Brazil and according to macroregion, educational level of the mother or caregiver, and type of health care service used, considering the sampling plan, weights, and calibration. In Brazil, the prevalence of micronutrient supplements use was 54.2% (95%CI: 50.5; 57.8), with the highest prevalence in the North Region (80.2%; 95%CI: 74.9; 85.6) and among children 6-23 months of age (69.5%; 95%CI: 65.7; 73.3). The prevalence of the use of supplements containing exclusively iron and exclusively vitamin A in Brazil was 14.6% (95%CI: 13.1; 16.1) and 23.3% (95%CI: 19.4; 27.1), respectively. The prevalence of the use of multivitamin with or without minerals in Brazilian children 6-59 months of age was 24.3% (95%CI: 21.4; 27.2). These results may help to understand the practice of supplements use among Brazilian children and support the proposal of national public policies for the prevention and control of micronutrient deficiencies.

Estudio Nacional de Alimentación y Nutrición Infantil: evidencias para las políticas en alimentación y nutrición

“…El uso de suplementos de micronutrientes entre los niños es un asunto poco estudiado, sobre todo a nivel nacional. En este sentido, los datos del ENANI-2019 16 permitieron caracterizar el consumo de suplementos de micronutrientes en niños de 6-59 meses según macrorregiones, escolaridad del cuidador, tipo de servicio en el cual el suplemento fue prescrito, entre otros. La prevalencia de consumo de estos productos fue del 54,2% para Brasil y alcanzó el 80% en los niños de la Región Norte.…”

Employing advanced supervised machine learning approaches for predicting micronutrient intake status among children aged 6–23 months in Ethiopia

“…Despite the efforts of programs such as the WHO 2016–2025 nutrition strategy, the inadequate intake of MNs remains a persistent issue in both developed and developing countries ( 10 ). For example, in Brazil, only 54.2% of children aged 6–59 months consumed a micronutrient supplement ( 11 ), and less than 10% of children aged 6–59 months in Ethiopia received iron supplements and deworming tablets ( 10 , 12 ).…”

Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition: evidence for food and nutrition policies

“…Few studies focus on the use of micronutrient supplements among children, especially at a national level. In this sense, the ENANI-2019 16 data allowed us to characterize the micronutrient supplements intake in children 6-59 months of age according to macro-regions, caregiver education, type of service in which the supplement was prescribed, among others. The prevalence of intake of these products was 54.2% nationwide and reached 80% for children in the North Region.…”