Iron and vitamin A status of breastfeeding mothers in Zambia.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in breastfeeding mothers.

Design: Cross sectional descriptive survey.

Subjects: Breastfeeding mothers bringing their children to under five clinic.

Setting: A shanty compound in the outskirts of Ndola city, Zambia, Central Africa.

Main Outcome Measures: Concentrations of vitamin A, iron, haemoglobin and correlation between vitamin A and iron.

Results: Anaemia was found in 29% while iron deficiency was present in 41% of the women studied. Iron deficiency anaemia was responsible for 22% of the anaemia cases. A positive correlation was found between serum vitamin A and haemoglobin concentrations (r = 0.184) and a significant statistical relationship existed (p < 0.05). This statistical significance was even greater when a correlation was made between haemoglobin concentrations and vitamin A concentrations below or equal to 30 micrograms/dl (1.05 mumol/1) (r = +0.351, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Vitamin A deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia need to be urgently addressed in this shanty compound and others like it surrounding Ndola city. Supplementing breastfeeding women with vitamin A will not only reduce vitamin A deficiency, but could also help to reduce anaemia.