Agricultural Science

An Assessment of the Feeding Practices, Vitamin a, Iron, Zinc, and Anthropometrics Status of Under-five Children in Orphanages

An Assessment of the Feeding Practices, Vitamin a, Iron, Zinc, and Anthropometrics Status of Under-five Children in Orphanages of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study was undertaken to assess the feeding practices, anthropometric indices, vitamin A, zinc, and iron status of under-five orphans living in Federal Capital Territory orphanages, Abuja.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using 200 orphans (96 males and 104 females) aged between 0-and 5 years living in ten orphanages. The subjects were purposively selected for the study and 20% of the sub-sample was randomly selected for biochemical analysis and weighed food intake assessment. Hemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin were used to assess anemia and iron status, respectively. Serum retinol was used to assess vitamin A status and serum zinc was used to assess zinc status. The subjects were screened for malaria parasites and worm infection to determine their possible impact on anemia. C-reactive protein (CRP) was used as an indicator for inflammation. Anthropometric information was assessed using height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference. Feeding practices and socioeconomic information were assessed using questionnaires.

Dietary intake was determined using both the food frequency questionnaire and weighed food intake techniques. The values obtained from nutrient intakes were compared with FAO/WHO recommended nutrients intake. Anemia cut-off was Hb < 11.0mg/dl, iron deficiency cut-off was serum ferritin levels below 12ug/dl, and serum retinol < 20μg/dl showed marginal vitamin A deficiency. Zinc deficiency was defined as reading below 80μg/dl. There was a high prevalence of zinc deficiency (60.0%) about 30.0% of iron and 20.0% of vitamin A deficiencies among the under-five children. The prevalence of anemia was 42.5%. The children met the mean daily energy, protein, calcium, iron, thiamin, and riboflavin intake. Zinc, vitamin A, niacin, and ascorbate were below the recommended allowance. When dietary iron, zinc, and vitamin A intake were correlated with the biochemical status of the children, adequate dietary iron intake significantly (P<0.05) correlated with good ferritin and zinc status of the children.



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