Assefa Nega, Abdullahi Yasir Y, Abraham Aklilu, Hemler Elena C, Madzorera Isabel, Dessie Yadeta, Roba Kedir Teji, Fawzi Wafaie W
College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
Jugal Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harar, Ethiopia.
BMC Nutr. 2021 Nov 15;7(1):69. doi: 10.1186/s40795-021-00476-6.
Dietary folate inadequacy is one the most common micronutrient deficiencies that cause neural tube defect (NTD) among infants in Sub-Saharan African countries. This study aims to determine the dietary intake of folate among women of reproductive age (WRA) of Kersa, Eastern Ethiopia.
A cross-sectional study took place among voluntary women that were selected from 1140 random households. Using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire, participant's weekly dietary intake history of Ethiopian foods and dietary folate intake was worked out. Statistical analysis was done at a 95% confidence interval. Modified Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with dietary folate consumption.
The estimated median usual intake of folate was 170 μg/d (IQR: 118.3; 252.2) and about 33% of WRA had low folate intake and 73.9% were at risk for folate inadequacy. From the reported food groups, Beans and Peas, Starchy staples, and Vitamin-A rich dark-green leafy vegetables were the top three ranked foods that contributed much of the dietary folate. The following conditions were statistically related to dietary folate inadequacy; women's age, being in poor wealth index, low dietary diversity, having seasonal employment, and reliance on market food sources.
We found that women's dietary intake of folate in Kersa is very low and cannot protect their offspring from the risk of having NTD. They could also potentially be predisposed to poor health outcomes. Diversifying and fortification of Ethiopian wheats and salts could decrease the burden of folate deficiency in the country.
膳食叶酸摄入不足是撒哈拉以南非洲国家婴儿神经管缺陷（NTD）最常见的微量营养素缺乏症之一。本研究旨在确定埃塞俄比亚东部克萨育龄妇女的膳食叶酸摄入量。
对从1140个随机家庭中挑选出的自愿参与的妇女进行了一项横断面研究。使用经过验证的食物频率问卷，计算参与者每周埃塞俄比亚食物的膳食摄入历史和膳食叶酸摄入量。在95%置信区间进行统计分析。采用修正泊松回归来确定与膳食叶酸消费相关的因素。
叶酸的估计中位通常摄入量为170μg/天（IQR：118.3；252.2），约33%的育龄妇女叶酸摄入量低，73.9%有叶酸摄入不足风险。在报告的食物类别中，豆类和豌豆、淀粉类主食以及富含维生素A的深绿色叶菜是膳食叶酸的三大主要贡献食物。以下情况与膳食叶酸摄入不足在统计学上相关；妇女年龄、财富指数低、膳食多样性低、有季节性工作以及依赖市场食物来源。
我们发现克萨妇女的膳食叶酸摄入量非常低，无法保护其后代免受神经管缺陷风险。她们也可能易患不良健康结果。使埃塞俄比亚小麦和盐多样化并强化可以减轻该国叶酸缺乏的负担。
