title: Vitamin-A deficiency and its determinants among preschool children: a community based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable visual impairments in children. It is also an underlying cause for nearly one-fourth of global child mortality associated with measles, diarrhea, and malaria. The limited literature available in Ethiopia shows severe public health significance of vitamin-A deficiency. Hence the aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence and factors determining vitamin-A deficiency among preschool children in Dembia District, northwest Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among preschool children of Dembia District from January to February, 2015. A multi-stage sampling, followed by a systematic sampling technique was employed to select study participants. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Using a binary logistic regression model, multivariable analysis was fitted to identify the associated factors of vitamin-A deficiency. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95 % confidence interval was computed to assess the strength of the association, and variables with a p value of <0.05 in multivariable analysis were considered as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred eighty-one preschool children were included in the study, giving a response rate of 96.5 %. The overall prevalence of xerophthalmia was 8.6 %. The result of the multivariable analysis revealed that nonattendance at the antenatal care clinic [AOR 2.65,95 % CI (1.39,5.07)], being male [AOR 1.81, 95 % CI (1.01,3.24)], and in the age group of 49-59 months [AOR 3.00, 95 % CI (1.49,6.02)] were significantly associated with vitamin-A deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin-A deficiency is a severe public health problem in the study area. Further strengthening antenatal care utilization and giving emphasis to preschool children will help to mitigate vitamin-A deficiency in the study area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. amaretariku15@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Amare
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tariku
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fekadu
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Ayanaw Tsega
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ferede
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Solomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mekonnen Abebe
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Akilew Awoke
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adane
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Determinants; Ethiopia; Preschool children; Xerophthalmia