Abstract:
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 133 preschool children from a disadvantaged population of Constantine City (Eastern Algeria). Questionnaires were administered to parents to obtain their consent for participation in the study and for the collection of data regarding their child. The findings revealed that 16.54% of the children were deficient in vitamin A, with 59.1% of them being 60 months.
Non-deficient children had a longer average breastfeeding duration (mean of 10.54 ± 7.8 months) compared to deficient children (mean of 7.54 ± 6.63 months). The prevalence of children who did not receive breastfeeding was lower among non-deficient children (6.70%) compared to deficient children (18.18%). Furthermore, the late introduction of complementary foods was more common in the group with vitamin A deficiency.
Low levels of parental education, socioeconomic status, and insufficient daily intake of vitamin A, are also associated with vitamin A deficiency in children.
The results of this study highlight the positive impact of breastfeeding on vitamin A status in young children. In Algeria, efforts to promote breastfeeding and nutritional education of mothers specifically, are essential in the maternal and child protection structures to avoid nutritional deficiencies in preschool children.
Keywords: Preschool children- breastfeeding-Vitamin A deficiency-Constantine (Eastern Algeria).
- By identifying the risk factors for vitamin A deficiency among preschool children, this research provides information for designing targeted health interventions and programs to prevent this deficiency. By highlighting the importance of breastfeeding, dietary diversification, and maternal nutrition education, it can simplify and enhance efforts to improve children's nutrition.
- This research can be used by other professors as a basis to expand their research in the field of child nutrition and health.
- The findings of this research provide new insights into the risk factors for vitamin A deficiency among children in Algeria. This can help improve the accuracy of designing nutritional interventions and health programs to prevent this deficiency in both Algeria and other developing countries.
