(PO15-49-22) Prevalence of Micronutrient Deficiencies Among Preschool Children in Belize

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Presenting Author(s)

JR

Jorge Rosenthal, PhD, MC
– Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Co-Author(s)

NL

Natalia Largaespada, MD
– Belize Ministry of Health
CK

Clarissa Keisling
– University of Georgia
CA

CJ Alverson
– National Center of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
GK

Gail Kauwell, Ph.D.
– University of Central Florida
LB

Lynn Bailey, PhD
– Head of the Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
JR

Jorge Rosenthal, PhD, MC
– Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Disclosure(s):

Jorge Rosenthal, PhD, MC: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Objectives: Micronutrient deficiencies (MD) are a public health concern in preschool children in many developing countries, including Belize. MD can impair proper growth, motor and cognitive development, and functioning in children. We assessed the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (vitAD), anemia (AN), iron deficiency (ID), iron deficiency anemia (IDA), red blood cell folate deficiency (RBCFD), vitamin B12 deficiency (B12D), and marginal deficiency (B12MD) among preschool children (6-59 months of age).

Methods: We conducted a national multistage cluster probability household biomarker survey of 971 preschool children. Demographic characteristics and blood samples were collected and analyzed. We used BRINDA regression adjustments for ferritin and retinol to account for inflammation. Prevalence and 95% CI of vitAD, AN, ID, IDA, RBCFD, B12D and B12MD were estimated.

Results: The national adjusted prevalence estimates showed very low prevalence of vitAD ( < 22mcg/L) 0.3% (95%CI: 0.0, 0.6). The national prevalence estimates for AN (hemoglobin < 11µ/dL), ID (ferritin < 12µg/dL), IDA (ferritin< µg/dL), and RBCFD( < 305nmol/L) were: 20.1% (95%CI: 17.2, 23.3), 7.7% (95%CI: 5.9, 9.9), 19.9% (95%CI: 14.1, 27.2), and 33.5% (95%CI: 29.1, 38.3), respectively. The prevalences of B12D ( < 148pmol/L) and B12MD (148-221 pmol/L) were 6.1% (95%CI: 4.5, 8.1) and 12.8% (95% CI: 10.4, 15.7), respectively

Conclusions: Our study revealed a low prevalence of vitAD, Vitamin A deficiency has been practically eliminated in belize. In contrast, ID, IDA, B12D and B12MD are of mild public health concern. In contrast AN and RBCFD are a moderate public health concernthat should be addressed in this age group

Funding Sources: None