Introduction: Micronutrient deficiency is one of the major problems
among mothers and children in Nepal.
Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the proportion
and determinants of mothers and children under the age of 3 years
taking vitamin A and iron in Nepal between 2001 and 2011.
Methods: Data was drawn from the Nepal Demographic and
Health Survey in 2001 (N=8,726), 2006 (N=10,793), and 2011
(N=12,674). Vitamin A and iron were assessed as intake from
foods and supplements. Multilevel logistic regression was used to
examine the determinants of micronutrient intake.
Results: The proportion of mothers taking vitamin A from foods
increased from 21.1% in 2001 to 74.1% in 2006 and vitamin A
from supplements from 11.3% in 2001 to 43.5% in 2011. Similarly,
the proportion of mothers taking iron supplementation increased
from 57% in 2006 to 80% in 2011. Among children, the proportion
taking vitamin A from foods increased from 52.5% in 2006 to 54.8%
in 2011, while the proportion of children taking iron from foods
decreased from 42.1% in 2006 to 11.1% in 2011. The proportion of
children taking vitamin A supplementation decreased from 82.5%
in 2001 to 76.7% in 2011. Mother’s education, place of residence,
religion, mother smoking status, mother’s age, and child’s age
were the key determinants of intake of vitamin A and iron among
Nepalese mothers and their children.
Conclusion: The proportion of Nepalese mothers taking vitamin
A and iron supplementation during pregnancy increased between
2001 and 2011 whereas intake among children decreased
during the same period. More prospective studies are needed to
understand the changes in nutritional intake.