Prevalence and Determinants of Micronutrient Deficiencies among Rural Children of Eight States in India

Abstract

Background/Aims: Micronutrient deficiencies continue to be a major public health problem in India. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of micronutrient deficiencies among rural children. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out by adopting a multistage stratified random sampling procedure. A total of 71,591 preschool children were included for ocular signs, 3,291 preschool children and 6,616 adolescents for hemoglobin, and 28,437 school-age children for iodine deficiency disorders. Results: The prevalence of Bitot's spots was 0.8% (CI = 0.6-0.9) and anemia among preschool children and adolescents was 67% (CI = 64.4-69.5) and 69% (CI = 67.0-71.4), respectively. The prevalence of total goiter was 3.9% (CI = 3.4-4.6). The risk of Bitot's spots was 2.4 times higher among preschool children of Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) than others and risk of anemia was twice as high (CI = 1.5-2.6) among adolescents of SC and ST. The micronutrient deficiencies were significantly lower in children who used sanitary latrines. Conclusions: Micronutrient malnutrition is a public health problem among rural children, and it was higher among children of SC/ST, illiterate parents and those not possessing a sanitary latrine. Thus, there is a need to improve environmental sanitation; fortification of foods could also help in mitigating the problem.

Socio‐cultural and economic determinants and consequences of adolescent undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in LLMICs: a systematic narrative review

“…Bangladeshi adolescents living in their parent's houses, as well as Indian adolescents living in a household with electricity, were found to have a higher Hb status. Moreover, adolescent girls living in households with latrines were at a lower risk of anemia than those in households without latrines . Remarkably, the prevalence of anemia was in one study significantly higher among adolescents living in nuclear families compared with their peers in extended or joint families; this was contrary to the association found between family type and stunting/thinness .…”

“…Paternal and maternal literacy were also found to positively predict a higher Hb status among Indian female adolescents . Furthermore, a better maternal and paternal occupation status were both protective of anemia among Indian and Ethiopian adolescents. Likewise, paternal and maternal occupational status were positively associated with Hb status in Bangladeshi adolescents …”

“…found dropping out of school to be protective of anemia among Indian adolescent girls . Adolescent literacy and a higher educational level were generally protective of anemia . Similarly, literacy and a higher educational level were positively associated with Hb and folate status, respectively.…”

“…74 Generally, increasing age was found to be a risk factor for anemia, 74,101 vitamin D deficiency, 102 and folate deficiency 98 among male and female adolescents. Likewise, studies in Nigeria, 103 India, 104 and South Korea 105 found increasing age to be inversely associated with plasma retinol, Hb, and serum 25(OH)D, respectively, for both sexes. Among adolescent girls, four Indian studies reported increasing age as a determinant of anemia.…”

“…106 Adolescent literacy and a higher educational level were generally protective of anemia. 104,107,[116][117][118] Similarly, literacy 119 and a higher educational 120 level were positively associated with Hb and folate status, respectively. Nevertheless, educational level was once found to be inversely associated with serum 25(OH)D among South Korean adolescents.…”