ABSTRACT
@#Zinc deficiency impairs growth and development but epidemiological data for zinc nutrition status among preschool children living in rural areas of Nigeria is lacking. The aim of the present study was to assess the zinc status and anthropometric indices of children aged between 6 and 60 months, living in a rural community in Edo State, Nigeria. In this community-based cross-sectional study, five out of the nine political wards (quarters) in the community were randomly selected; all the households with children aged between 6 and 60 months were included the study. A total of 252 children were selected to participate after obtaining informed consent from their parents. Steps were taken to avoid exogenous zinc contamination of the blood samples which were collected in the mornings. The serum zinc levels of the subjects were determined, using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The weights, heights, head and mid-upper arm circumferences of each child were measured, using standard procedures. Z- scores of anthropometric indices of height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height were computed to assess the nutritional status of the children. The mean age of the study population was 32.7±17.0 months. The prevalence rates of stunting, underweight and wasting among the children were 18.2%, 14.7% and 11.1%, respectively. The overall mean serum zinc concentration was 4.77±3.02μmol/L, with a range of 1.0 16.52μmol/L. Of the 252 children, 220 (87.3%) had mean serum zinc concentration below 7.65μmol/L, representing severe zinc deficiency. The highest mean serum zinc concentration was found among children aged 6 to 12 months and this was followed by a progressive decline in serum zinc concentration from the age of 13 months up to 48 months. Correlation between the serum zinc concentration of the children and their age and social class of the parents were as follows: age, r = 0.09, at p = 0.15; social class, r = 0.08; at p = 0.21. The children with wasting had the lowest mean serum zinc concentration compared with either the group with underweight or stunting. The zinc nutritional status of preschool-age children in this community clearly indicates a suboptimal zinc status at the time of this study. According to the IZiNCG criteria, this should be considered as a public health problem among preschool-age children in this community. To effectively address the issue, social mobilization, intensive education and awareness campaign, with all target groups and policy makers are urgently required. Public health measures aimed at improving their zinc nutritional status should also be considered.