Uptake of routine vitamin A supplementation for children in Humbo district, southern Ethiopia: community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: In low- and middle-income countries routine vitamin A supplementation (VAS) is a key strategy for reducing vitamin A deficiency and mortality and morbidity of preschool children. However, in Ethiopia, there is paucity of evidence regarding the level and determinants of the uptake of the supplement. This study was designed to assess the coverage and predictors of VAS among preschool children in Humbo district, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2016. A total of 840 mothers/caregivers having children 6-59 months of age were selected using multistage cluster sampling technique from six rural villages implementing routine VAS program. Data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaire. Possible predictors considered in the study include distance from the nearby health facility, household socio-economic status, type of the household (model vs non-model), maternal access to health education on VAS, and knowledge on vitamin A and VAS. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of uptake of VAS. The outputs are presented using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the respective 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The coverage of VAS was 75.0% (95% CI: 72.1-77.9). Better knowledge of mothers about the importance of the supplement (AOR: 1.49, 1.02-2.17), obtaining VAS related information from frontline community health workers (AOR: 1.51, 1.34-2.72) than health professionals and being from households in the "rich" wealth tertile (AOR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.07-3.03) were positively associated with uptake VAS. CONCLUSION: The VAS coverage of the area was approaching the expected national target of 80%. However, the uptake can be enhanced though awareness creation and improving socio-economic status of the community.