Determinants of maternal vitamin A or beta-carotene supplementation coverage: village-based female distributors in Nepal
Katz, J.; West, K.P.; Wu, L.; Khatry, S.K.; Pradhan, E.Kimbrough.; Christian, P.; LeClerq, S.C.; Shrestha, S.Ram.
American Journal of Public Health 92(7): 1105-1107
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0090-0036 PMID: 12084690 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.92.7.1105Document Number: 242384
Between 1994 and 1997, a community-randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in the Sarlahi district of Nepal to assess the impact on maternal and infant health and survival of weekly vitamin A or beta-carotene supplementation among 44 646 women of childbearing age. Distributors spent an average of 5 hours per week delivering supplements. The mean coverage rate among the 345 distributors was 61% (range: 16% to 86%). The mean number of women to whom distributors were responsible for providing supplements was 105 (SD=36). In comparison with women from villages without a weekly market, those from villages that contained a weekly market were more likely to have low coverage rates (odds ratio (OR)=2.32; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01, 5.28), to do more housework each week (42.5 hours vs 38.2 hours), and to distribute supplements to more women (114 vs 103). Also, women with higher coverage rates were more likely to be illiterate (OR=5.07; 95% CI=0.94, 27.44). Finally, distributors with higher coverage rates spent 1 hour less per week distributing supplements, as they had fewer women to supplement.