Prevalence and public health relevance of micronutrient deficiencies and undernutrition in pre-school children and women of reproductive age in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa

Rohner F, Northrop-Clewes C, Tschannen AB, Bosso PE, Kouassi-Gohou V, Erhardt JG, Bui M, Zimmermann MB, and Mascie-Taylor CGN.

September 2013 – Public Health Nutrition

To understand the prevalence and magnitude of nutritional deficiencies pre-school age children (pre-SAC) and non pregnant women of reproductive age (WRA) in Côte d’Ivoire, a national cross-sectional survey assessing maco/micronutrient status and infection (e.g. malaria) was conducted. In pre-SAC, anaemia was classified as a severe public health problem (72%), and was higher in rural areas (76 %) and the north (87 %). A quarter of pre-SAC suffered from vitamin A deficiency (inflammation-adjusted) and prevalence of undernutrition (assessed by stunting, wasting and underweight) was high. The prevalence of inflammation (67%) and malaria parasites (25%) were also of concern. In WRA, prevalence of malaria parasites (5 %) was low, but inflammation (34 %) was higher. Anaemia was a severe public health problem and prevalence differed by residency and eco-region. Inflammation-adjusted Fe deficiency was highest in urban areas (20 %). Nationally, folate deficiency was 86 %, higher in urban areas and varied by eco-region. Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was low but higher in the rural areas and the north. Inflammation adjusted vitamin A deficiency was very low (1 %). Prevalence of inflammation, malaria parasites and micronutrient deficiencies were high in Côte d’Ivoire, particularly in pre-SAC. Nutritional interventions should be accompanied by strategies to reduce exposure to infections.