Vitamin A Deficiency, Anemia, and Nutritional Status of under 5-Year Children from Northeast India

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and Anemia are important public health nutritional problems in India. OBJECTIVE: To assess nutritional status and prevalence and correlates of undernutrition, anemia, and VAD among children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out adopting systematic random sampling. Information on socio-demographic particulars was collected and 20 μL blood was collected for hemoglobin and free-flowing drop on Whatman filter paper for Vitamin A estimation. Hemoglobin was estimated using indirect cyanmethemoglobin and Vitamin A by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Nutritional status was assessed using the WHO Child Growth Standard. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anemia and VAD was 68% and 59%, respectively, while underweight, stunting, and wasting was 30%, 55%, and 11%, respectively, among under 5 year children. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed no significant association of anemia and VAD with any sociodemographic variables, while the odd of stunting was four times higher among children of mothers engaged in labor and two times among children from low-income group, while underweight was two times higher among children from households not having sanitary latrine. Exclusive breastfeeding was observed to be associated with undernutrition among infants. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia, VAD, and stunting were high among children. Low intakes of green leafy vegetables and milk and milk product may be the reasons for the higher prevalence of anemia and VAD. There is a need to strengthen supplementation of iron and folic acid tablets and Vitamin A and also public distribution system.