Prevalence Of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Children Under Five Years Of Age In Nigeria

 1.2 Statement of the Problem 

The deficiency of the vitamin A is a stern universal under nutrition matters that predominantly touches children aged under-fives. Deficiency of Vitamin is the reason for severe visual damage that can lead to sightlessness, and suggestively reason for surges in severe infection leading to death, from such childhood common illnesses including diarrheal disease, measles and pneumonia. The routine supplementation in Kaduna is low (68%) for children under five years which is lower than the national target of above 80% in Nigeria. Also in Kaduna there is no adequate data on the factors affecting the vitamin A supplementation. Vitamin A have been acknowledged as priority micronutrient in Arid and Semi-Arid Land.

1.3 Purpose of the Study 

The study sought to describe the prevalence of vitamin a deficiency among children under five years of age in Nigeria. 

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The study was guided by the following objectives:  

i. To evaluate the prevalence of vitamin a deficiency among children under five years of age

ii. To find the outcome of the vitamin supplement on child nutritional effect. 

iii. To investigate relationship between the deficiency and common disease occurrence. 

iv. To determine the effect of vitamin A rich food on nutritional status 

1.5 Justification 

Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem all around the world, affecting children under five in more than half of all countries. The supplementation of the vitamin A is the most cost-effective and best-established technique to decrease the deficiency of the said vitamin to improve the nutrition status and at the same time saving the lives of the young children. The supplements do vital work in countries with high under-5 mortalities, usually low-income countries with the lowest levels of nutrition. In these settings, the delivery of vitamin A is of utmost importance, yet progress made over the past two decades is stalling and receding.  The study sought to describe the vitamin A supplementation in Nigeria and how it affects nutrition status and morbidity among children under the age of 5 years. The outcome of the study will be of great benefit to the county government and the other health stakeholders both in nutrition specific and sensitive in health and nutrition programing considering the insufficient information on Vitamin A in the county. 

1.6 Limitations of the Study 

The study was limited to in Nigeria.  The study was descriptive in nature and therefore no causal inferences could be made. The results of the study were limited to the accuracy and honesty of respondents since it was a self- report study. 

1.7 Delimitation of the Study 

A large number of respondents was used to enhance generalizability of the study results. 

Informed consent was sought to enhance the honesty of respondents.  

1.8 Significance of the Study 

The study results will be of great help toward county government programming specifically to the department of health and partners in health and nutrition both in nutrition specific and sensitive   to come up with better strategies that aim to improve the poor coverage of Vitamin A routine supplementation and dietary intakes to improve dietary diversity in the county. Researchers may use the findings as reference material in future studies.  

1.9 Operational Definition of Terms 

Bio fortification: this is a procedure of increasing the vital content of plant nutrients through breeding 

 Dietary diversity: Total number of diets or food collections consumed over specified reference period  

Fortification:  deliberately increasing the content of an vital a micronutrient in diet.  

Malnutrition: Is impairment of health resulting from one or more nutrients resulting in under or over-nutrition.  

Nutritional Status:  Is the state of a person’s health depending on his/her nutrients intake 

Stunting: decreased progression in height or length that experienced from poor nutrition  

Supplementation: Addition of extra element to the normal food intentionally by balancing a diet lacking to meet an essential recommended daily allowance  

Underweight: a mass below the heaviness that is considered normal or desirable.   

Vitamin A Deficiency: Inadequate vitamin A in blood and tissues for the body 

functions. 

 Micronutrients: component of diets that plays essential function in our body in minor quantities, which is critical for usual maintenance and growth whose deficit will cause undesirable changes in our body. 

Vitamin A Supplementation Coverage: The proportion of under-fives in receipt of the Vitamin A supplement in a specific place in specific period of time