Epidemiology of micronutrient deficiencies in agricultural reproductive-aged female workers in Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey

Year 2018, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 9 - 9, 01.02.2018

Zeynep Simsek , Banu Atalay Ayşana Zehra Keklik Muhsin Akbaba , Melikşah Ertem

Abstract

Abstract

Deficiencies of micronutrients, especially iron,
folate, and vitamin B₁₂, among women of reproductive age are known
causes of serious maternal and child health problems.The
purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence of anemia, and vitamin B₁₂ and folate deficiencies
and risk factors among reproductive-aged married women in an agricultural
population. A cross-sectional study was
conducted on the random sample of 749 reproductive age women in nine provinces
of the southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey in 2013. Chi-square test and
logistic regression were applied for the data analysis. The results indicated
that 36%, 24.3%, and 1.6% of the women had anemia, vitamin B₁₂ and
folate deficiencies, respectively. Seasonal agricultural workers, illiterate
women, and those living in rural areas had a higher prevalence of anemia, and
micronutrient deficiencies after analysis of the confounders. These data
indicated the necessity of a public health program for the prevention and early
diagnosis of micronutrients including enhanced biological surveillance systems, developed B₁₂ monitoring program, and community empowerment programs to
decrease micronutrients deficiencies in agricultural reproductive age women.

Keywords: Anemia, B12 and folate
deficiencies, Agricultural reproductive aged women 

Keywords

Epidemiology of micronutrient deficiencies in agricultural reproductive-aged female workers in Southeastern Anatolia

References

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