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Janmohamed A, Doledec D, Dissieka R, Jalloh UH, Juneja S, Beye M, Ndiaye F, Jumbe T, Baker MM. Vitamin A supplementation coverage and associated factors for children aged 6 to 59 months in integrated and campaign-based delivery systems in four sub-Saharan African countries. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1189. [PMID: 38678255 PMCID: PMC11055222 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18707-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a leading contributor to the poor health and nutrition of young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Funding constraints are compelling many countries to shift from longstanding campaigns to integrating vitamin A supplementation (VAS) into routine health services. We assessed child VAS coverage and associated factors for integrated delivery systems in Mozambique, Senegal, and Sierra Leone and for a campaign-based delivery strategy in Tanzania. METHODS Data were obtained using representative household surveys administered to primary caregivers of N = 16,343 children aged 6-59 months (Mozambique: N = 1,659; Senegal: N = 7,254; Sierra Leone: N = 4,149; Tanzania: N = 3,281). Single-dose VAS coverage was assessed and bivariate and multivariable associations were examined for child VAS receipt with respect to rural or urban residence; child age and sex; maternal age, education, and VAS program knowledge; and household wealth. RESULTS VAS coverage for children aged 6-59 months was 42.8% (95% CI: 40.2, 45.6) in Mozambique, 46.1% (95% CI: 44.9, 47.4) in Senegal, 86.9% (95% CI: 85.8, 87.9) in Sierra Leone, and 42.4% (95% CI: 40.2, 44.6) in Tanzania and was significantly higher for children 6-11 vs. 24-59 months in Mozambique, Senegal, and Tanzania. In Sierra Leone, children aged 12-23 months (aOR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.20, 2.86) and 24-59 months (aOR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.25) were more likely to receive VAS, compared to those 6-11 months. Maternal awareness of VAS programs was associated with higher uptake in Mozambique (aOR = 4.00; 95% CI: 2.81, 5.68), Senegal (aOR = 2.72; 95% CI: 2.35, 3.15), and Tanzania (aOR = 14.50; 95% CI: 10.98, 19.17). Increased household wealth was associated with a higher likelihood of child VAS in Senegal and Tanzania. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate routine delivery approaches for VAS are not achieving the level of coverage needed for public health impact in these settings. Intensive outreach efforts contributed to the higher coverage in Sierra Leone and highlight the importance of reducing the burdens associated with seeking supplementation at health facilities. As countries move towards incorporating VAS into routine health services, the essentiality of informed communities and potential losses for older children and socio-economically disadvantaged populations are key considerations in the sub-Saharan African context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amynah Janmohamed
- Helen Keller International Vitamin A Supplementation Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - David Doledec
- Helen Keller International Vitamin A Supplementation Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Romance Dissieka
- Helen Keller International Vitamin A Supplementation Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Umu H Jalloh
- Helen Keller International, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | | | | | - Melissa M Baker
- Helen Keller International Vitamin A Supplementation Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Baker MM, Janmohamed A, Toure D, Dissieka R, Ndiaye F, Khassanova R, Fofana ML, Doledec D. COVID-19 concerns among caregivers and vitamin A supplementation coverage among children aged 6-59 months in four countries in Western sub-Saharan Africa. Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:1935-1943. [PMID: 37395173 PMCID: PMC10564591 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023001258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess child vitamin A supplementation (VAS) coverage in 2019 and 2020 and explore key factors, including COVID-19 concerns, that influenced VAS status in four sub-Saharan African countries. DESIGN Data from eight representative household surveys were used to assess VAS coverage. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the effect of rural/urban residence, child sex and age, caregiver education, COVID-19 concern and household wealth on VAS status. SETTING Nine (2019) and 12 (2020) districts in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Mali. PARTICIPANTS 28 283 caregivers of children aged 6-59 months. RESULTS Between 2019 and 2020, VAS coverage increased in Burkina Faso (82·2-93·1 %), Côte d'Ivoire (90·3-93·3 %) and Mali (76·1-79·3 %) and decreased in Guinea (86·0 % to 81·7 %). Rural children had a higher likelihood of VAS uptake compared with urban children in Burkina Faso (adjusted OR (aOR) = 4·22; 95 % CI: 3·11, 5·72), Côte d'Ivoire (aOR = 5·19; 95 % CI: 3·10, 8·70) and Mali (aOR = 1·41; 95 % CI: 1·15, 1·74). Children aged 12-59 months had a higher likelihood of VAS uptake compared with children aged 6-11 months in Côte d'Ivoire (aOR = 1·67; 95 % CI: 1·12, 2·48) and Mali (aOR = 1·74; 95 % CI: 1·34, 2·26). Moderate-to-high COVID-19 concern was associated with a lower likelihood of VAS uptake in Côte d'Ivoire (aOR = 0·55; 95 % CI: 0·37, 0·80). CONCLUSION The increase in VAS coverage from 2019 to 2020 suggests that COVID-19 concerns may not have limited VAS uptake in some African countries, though geographic inequities should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M Baker
- Helen Keller International, P.O. Box 14195 – 00800, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David Doledec
- Helen Keller International, P.O. Box 14195 – 00800, Nairobi, Kenya
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Berihun B, Chemir F, Gebru M, GebreEyesus FA. Vitamin A supplementation coverage and its associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in West Azernet Berbere Woreda, South West Ethiopia. BMC Pediatr 2023; 23:257. [PMID: 37221505 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04059-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitamin A deficiency is one of the major public health problems in low and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. Despite this fact, little attention was given to routine vitamin A supplementation in hard-to-reach rural areas and districts. Therefore, this study aimed to assess vitamin A supplementation coverage and its associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in West Azernet Berbere woreda, southern Ethiopia, 2021. METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2021. A total sample size of 471 study participants was involved in the study area. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit the study subject. A pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to identify variables having a significant association with vitamin A supplementation. The variables having a p-value ≤ 0.05 with 95% CI were used to declare an association between factors and a dependent variable. RESULTS In this study, a total of 471 respondents were successfully interviewed with a response rate of 97.3%. The coverage of vitamin A supplementation was found to be 58.0%. Family monthly income [AOR = 2.565, 95% CI(1.631,4.032)], having PNC visit [AOR = 1.801, 95% CI (1.158, 2.801)], husbands disapproval about vitamin A supplementation [AOR = 0.324, 95% CI (0.129, 0.813)], information about vitamin A supplementation [AOR = 2.932, 95% CI (1.893, 4,542)] and ANC follow-up [AOR = 1.882, 95% CI (1.084, 3.266)] were factors significantly associated to vitamin A supplementation. CONCLUSION Vitamin A supplementation was found to be low and it is strongly associated with family monthly income, postnatal care, husband's disapproval of vitamin A supplementation, antenatal care follow-up, and information about vitamin A supplementation. Based on our findings, it is recommended to improve the monthly income of the household by actively engaging in various income-generating activities, enhance health information dissemination among mothers, particularly those who are underprivileged by using different strategies like local health campaigns, and mass media, advocacy of antenatal, and postnatal follow-up and promote the involvement of males/husband in childhood immunization service.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fantaye Chemir
- Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wolkite University, PO Box 07, Wolkite, Ethiopia
| | - Mehari Gebru
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wolkite University, PO Box 07, Wolkite, Ethiopia
| | - Fisha Alebel GebreEyesus
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wolkite University, PO Box 07, Wolkite, Ethiopia.
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Okyere J, Azure SA, Budu E, Mensah F, Ahinkorah BO, Ameyaw EK, Seidu AA. Trends and inequalities in children aged 6-59 months who received Vitamin A supplementation: evidence from the 2003, 2008 and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Trop Med Health 2022; 50:99. [PMID: 36578095 PMCID: PMC9795595 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-022-00488-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitamin A deficiency is considered a public health issue, particularly among children under 5 years. Vitamin A supplementation is among the ten key essential nutrition actions put in place to tackle malnutrition in children and helps to reduce under-five mortality by almost a quarter in Vitamin A deficient areas. We, therefore, examined inequalities in Vitamin A uptake among children 6-59 months in Ghana. METHODS We used data from the 2003, 2008, and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys. The WHO's HEAT version 3.1 software was used for all the analyses. We adopted six equity stratifiers (maternal age, economic status, level of education, place of residence, sex of the child, and region) to disaggregate Vitamin A supplementation among children 6-59 months. Four measures were used to compute inequality, namely, Difference (D), Population Attributable Risk (PAR), Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) and Ratio (R). RESULTS Over the 11-year period, the proportion of children who received Vitamin A supplementation declined from 78.6% to 65.2%. There were inequalities by maternal age, particularly in 2003 (D = 13.1, CI: 2.3, 23.9; PAF = 0.5, CI: - 12.3, 13.2). The widest inequality in Vitamin A supplementation by economic status was noted in 2003 (D = 8.8, CI: 3.3-14.2; PAF = 8.3, CI: 5, 11.5). In terms of sex, the indices revealed mild inequality in Vitamin A supplementation throughout the period studied. For education, the highest inequality was observed in 2014 (D = 11.6, CI: 6.0, 17.1), while the highest inequality in terms of place of residence was observed in 2003 (D = 4.0, CI: - 0.1-8.4). In the case of region, substantial inequality was noted in 2014 (D = 34.7, CI: 22.6, 46.8; PAF = 21.1, CI: 15.3, 27). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that there is a need for the government of Ghana to deploy targeted interventions to enhance the uptake of Vitamin A supplementation among the most disadvantaged subpopulations. Interventions targeted at these disadvantaged populations should be pro-poor in nature. In addition, the inequalities in the dimension of place of residence were mixed, favoring both rural and urban children at different points. This calls for a comprehensive and all-inclusive approach that enhances Vitamin A supplementation uptake in an equitable manner in both areas of residence. Empowerment of women through formal education could be an important step toward improving Vitamin A supplementation among children in Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Okyere
- grid.413081.f0000 0001 2322 8567Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana ,grid.9829.a0000000109466120Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Simon Agongo Azure
- grid.412737.40000 0001 2186 7189Population and Reproductive Health Division, School of Public Health, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria ,Department of Community Health, College of Health, Yamfo, Ghana
| | - Eugene Budu
- grid.415489.50000 0004 0546 3805Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box, 77, Accra, Ghana
| | - Felix Mensah
- grid.413081.f0000 0001 2322 8567Department of Data Science and Economic Policy, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
- REMS Consult Ltd., Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region Ghana ,grid.117476.20000 0004 1936 7611School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Edward Kwabena Ameyaw
- grid.117476.20000 0004 1936 7611School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia ,grid.411382.d0000 0004 1770 0716Institute of Policy Studies and School of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China ,L & E Research Consult Ltd., Wa, Upper West Region Ghana
| | - Abdul-Aziz Seidu
- REMS Consult Ltd., Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region Ghana ,grid.511546.20000 0004 0424 5478Centre for Gender and Advocacy, Takoradi Technical University, Takoradi, Ghana ,grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
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Lucha TA, Engida TA, Mengistu AK. Assessing the potential determinants of national vitamin A supplementation among children aged 6-35 months in Ethiopia: further analysis of the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22:439. [PMID: 35864488 PMCID: PMC9306167 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03499-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vitamin A is a nutrient that is required in a small amount for normal visual system function, growth and development, epithelia’s cellular integrity, immune function, and reproduction. Vitamin A has a significant and clinically important effect since it has been associated with a reduction in all-cause and diarrhea mortality. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with national vitamin A supplementation among children aged 6–35 months. Method The data for this study was extracted from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey. A total weighted sample of 2242 women with children aged 6–35 months was included in the study. The analysis was performed using Stata version 14.2 software. Applying sampling weight for descriptive statistics and complex sample design for inferential statistics, a manual backward stepwise elimination approach was applied. Finally, statistical significance declared at the level of p value < 0.05. Result The overall coverage of vitamin A supplementation among children aged 6–35 months for the survey included was 44.4 95% CI (40.15, 48.74). In the multivariable analysis, mothers who had four or more antenatal visits [AOR = 2.02 (95% CI: 1.34, 3.04)] were two times more likely to receive vitamin A capsules for their children than mothers who had no antenatal visits. Children from middle-wealth quintiles had higher odds of receiving vitamin A capsules in comparison to children from the poorest wealth quintile [AOR = 1.77 (95% CI: 1.14, 2.73)]. Older children had higher odds of receiving vitamin A capsules than the youngest ones. Other factors that were associated with vitamin A supplementation were mode of delivery and region. Conclusion The coverage of vitamin A supplementation in Ethiopia remains low and it is strongly associated with antenatal visit, household wealth index and age of child. Expanding maternal health services like antenatal care visits should be prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadele Abate Lucha
- Department of Neonatal Nursing, Menelik II Medical & Health Sciences College, Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Teklu Assefa Engida
- Department of Neonatal Nursing, Menelik II Medical & Health Sciences College, Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Admassu Ketsela Mengistu
- Department of Pharmacy, Menelik II Medical & Health Sciences College, Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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