Co-occurrence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency among pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia: a community-based study

Abstract

Background It is well known that the magnitude of undernutrition in Ethiopia is unacceptably high. The burden of co-occurrence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency, on the other hand, has received less attention. Thus, in this study, we looked at the prevalence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency in pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 397 pregnant women in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia. An interview-assisted questionnaire and blood serum were collected from pregnant women using standard techniques and shipped to an EPHI for micronutrient analysis. Factors associated with the co-occurrence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency were identified using binary and multiple logistic regressions. Results According to this study, 81.6% of the participants were deficient in at least one micronutrient, and 53.53.2% were deficient in two or more. Women who did not receive iron-folic acid supplementation (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI = 1.52–3.92), did not attend Antenatal care (ANC) follow up (AOR = 2.88; 95% CI = 1.81–4.61), and reported low consumption of diversified diet (AOR = 2.18 (95% CI = 1.35–3.51) had a higher risk of co-occurrence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency. Conclusion This study found that more than half of pregnant women were in multiple micronutrients, indicating a major public health issue. In addition to the IFA supplementation programs that are already in place, there is a need for multiple micronutrient supplementation.

Dietary micronutrients intake and its effect on haemoglobin levels of pregnant women for clinic visit in the Mount Cameroon health area: a cross-sectional study

“…Although diet holds great importance for maternal and neonatal health, inadequate proportions are often consumed most especially by women residing in low - and - middle income countries and study participants in the Mount Cameroon area were no exception (89.6%) ( 25 , 45 , 46 ). According to the WHO, the most common micronutrient deficiencies are; iron, vitamin A and iodine deficiencies ( 2 , 47 ). In this study, 86.2% of the women consumed foods rich in iron specifically haem iron a day before the survey.…”

“…Micronutrients are vital to health as they ensure normal growth, metabolism and physical wellbeing ( 1 , 2 ). Although required in small amounts, the impact of their deficiency is severe ( 3 ).…”

“…Globally, more than 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, with the main being iron, zinc, iodine, vitamins A and B ( 4 , 5 ). During pregnancy, these deficiencies which results from; lack of consumption of nutrient-dense food groups, poor understanding of the importance of a diverse diet and inefficient utilisation of available micronutrients ( 6 , 7 ) can lead to a myriad of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes including; anaemia, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, low birth weight, preterm birth, increased risk of maternal and neonatal mortality as well as cognitive deficit in the baby later in life ( 2 , 8 ).…”