Prevalence of iron, vitamin A, and iodine deficiencies amongst adolescent pregnant mothers.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of iron, vitamin A and iodine deficiencies amongst rural Adolescent Pregnant Mothers (APM).


METHODS
Survey was conducted amongst APM in a rural block; district Udham Singh Nagar, Uttaranchal State. In the district, all blocks were enlisted and one block was randomly selected. Further, villages in the block were listed (n = 64) and five villages were randomly selected for the detailed study. All APM residing in the selected villages were included for the detailed study. The data on socio demographic parameters was collected utilizing a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Anaemia was assessed by hemoglobin estimation with the help of the HemoCue instrument. Vitamin-A deficiency (VAD) was assessed by presence of night blindness utilizing a pre-tested semi structured proforma. Iodine Deficiency was assessed by the clinical examination of the thyroid gland and estimating the Urinary Iodine Excretion (UIE) levels of each subject. Nutrient intake was assessed by the 24-hr dietary recall method.


RESULTS
One hundred and fifty one APM, belonging to low socio economic group, were selected for the study. The occupation of the families was farming, but the APM were housewives. The mean age of the APM was 17.8 +/- 1.5 yr. Eighty nine percent of the APM were in the age group 16-19 yr. Sixty percent of the APM were in the gestational age of 24 weeks and more. It was found that 46.0% of the APM were anaemic (Hb < 11.0 gm/dl). Sixteen percent of the study subjects had presence of night blindness. Fifteen percent of the subjects had Goiter. Median UIE level in the subjects studied was 95.0 micrograms/l. Concomitant prevalence of the three deficiencies was amongst 2.0% of the population. The 24-hour dietary intake revealed that the mean consumption of retinol and iron was only 13 and 28% of the recommended dietary allowance, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present study indicated that Anaemia, Vitamin A, and Iodine deficiency existed as public health problems in the APM of the study area.
Pathak
Priyali
P
Department of Human Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110 029, India. priyalipathak@hotmail.com
Singh
Preeti
P
Kapil
Umesh
U
Raghuvanshi
Rita Singh
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D015897:Comorbidity; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
D007455:Iodine