Assessment of the feeding practices, vitamin a, iron, zinc and anthropometrics status of under-five children in orphanages of federal capital territory abuja, nigeria.

Project Abstract

<p> The study was undertaken to assess the feeding practices, anthropometric indices, vitamin A,<br>zinc and iron status of under-five orphans living in Federal Capital Territory orphanages, Abuja.<br>A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted using 200 orphans (96 males and 104 females)<br>aged between 0-5 years living in ten orphanages. The subjects were purposively selected for the<br>study and 20% of sub-sample was randomly selected for biochemical analysis and weighed food<br>intake assessment. Haemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin were used to assess anaemia and iron<br>status, respectively. Serum retinol was used to assess vitamin A status and serum zinc was used<br>to assess zinc status. The subjects were screened for malaria parasites and worm infection to<br>determine their possible impact on anaemia. C-reactive protein (CRP) was used as an indicator<br>for inflammation. Anthropometric information was assessed using height, weight and mid upper<br>arm circumference. Feeding practices and socioeconomic information were assessed using<br>questionnaires.<br>Dietary intake was determined using both food frequency questionnaire and<br>weighed food intake techniques. The values obtained from nutrient intakes were compared with<br>FAO/WHO recommended nutrients intake. Anaemia cut off was Hb &lt; 11.0mg/dl, iron deficiency<br>cut off was serum ferritin levels below 12ug/dl and serum retinol &lt; 20μg/dl showed marginal<br>vitamin A deficiency. Zinc deficiency was defined as a reading bellow 80μg/dl. There was high<br>prevalence of zinc deficiency (60.0%) in relation to 30.0% of iron and 20.0% of vitamin A<br>deficiencies among the under-five children. The prevalence of anaemia was 42.5%. The children<br>met the mean daily energy, protein, calcium, iron, thiamin and riboflavin intake. Zinc, vitamin A,<br>niacin and ascorbate were below the recommended allowance. When dietary iron, zinc and<br>vitamin A intake were correlated with the biochemical status of the children, adequate dietary<br>iron intake significantly (P&lt;0.05) correlated with good ferritin and zinc status of the children. <br></p>

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