VITAMIN A SUPPLIMENTATION COVERAGE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 6-59 MONTHS IN WEST AZERNET BERBER WOREDA, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency is one of major public health significance; it is a risk factor for childhood mortality from diarrhea and measles in low and middle income countries and an important cause of preventable child hood blindness in low income countries. Vitamin A supplementation will be supplemented in many low and middle income countries and high coverage reduces the prevalence of blinding corneal diseases in children. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess vitamin A supplementation coverage and its associated factors among children aged 6-59months in West Azernet Berber woreda, southern Ethiopia, 2021Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in April to May 2021.A total sample size of 471 study participants was involved in the study area. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit study subject. A pretest structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used. Binary logistic regression was used to identify associated factors vitamin A supplementation. After adjustment of independent factors the model was fitted. Result: In this study a total of 471 respondents were successfully interviewed with response rateof 97.3%. The coverage of vitamin A supplementation was 58.0% [95% CI (53.7, 62.0)]. Family monthly income [AOR=2.44%,95% CI(1.44,4.135)], having PNC visit [AOR=2.052, 95%CI(1.227,3.430)] advice from peers or family [AOR=1.158,95%CI (0.288,3.646)], husbands disapproval about vitamin Supplementation [AOR=0.303, 95%CI(0.116,0.795)], information about vitamin A supplementation [AOR=2.060, 95 CI (1.075,3.947)and maternal knowledge[AOR=0.589,95% CI (0.376,0.923)] were factors significantly associated to vitamin Supplementation. Conclusion: The VAS coverage at the study area was lower than national excepted target 80%.However, VAS can be enhanced through awareness creation and improving socio-economic status of the community. Therefore intervention should be given at each factor to employ vitamin Supplementation.