Characterizing micronutrient status and risk factors among late adolescent and young women in rural Pakistan: A cross-sectional assessment of the MaPPS trial

Authors

Jo-Anna B. Baxter, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Yaqub Wasan, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Amjad Hussain, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Sajid Bashir Soofi, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Imran Ahmed, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Abstract

Nutritional deficiencies are a leading underlying risk factor contributing to the global burden of disease. In Pakistan, late adolescence is considered a nutritionally vulnerable period, as micronutrient requirements are increased to support maturation, and dietary staples are nutrient poor. However, there has been limited evaluation of micronutrient status beyond anemia and its determinants. Using cross-sectional data from late adolescent and young women (15-23 years) at enrolment in the Matiari emPowerment and Preconception Supplementation (MaPPS) Trial, we aimed to describe the prevalence of key micronutrient deficiencies of public health concern, and generate hierarchical models to examine associations with proxies for social determinants of health (SDoH). The prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies was high: 53.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 53.0-54.3%) had anemia; 38.0% (95% CI: 36.4-39.6%) iron deficiency anemia; 31.8% (95% CI: 30.2-33.3%) vitamin A deficiency; and 81.1% (95% CI: 79.8-82.4%) vitamin D deficiency. At least one deficiency was experienced by 91.0% (95% CI: 90.1-92.0%). Few SDoH were maintained in the final hierarchical models, although those maintained were often related to socioeconomic status (e.g., education, occupation). To improve the micronutrient status of late adolescent and young women in Pakistan, a direct micronutrient intervention is warranted, and should be paired with broader poverty alleviation methods.

Comments

Pagination are not provided by the author/publisher

Publication (Name of Journal)

Nutrients

Recommended Citation

Baxter, J. B., Wasan, Y., Hussain, A., Soofi, S., Ahmed, I., Bhutta, Z. A. (2021). Characterizing micronutrient status and risk factors among late adolescent and young women in rural Pakistan: A cross-sectional assessment of the MaPPS trial. Nutrients, 13(4), 1237.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_women_childhealth_wc/176

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