Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, PO box 373, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Dambi Dollo Teachers College, Dambi Dollo, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.
Sci Rep. 2023 Mar 14;13(1):4197. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-30284-w.
Micro-nutrients are required in small amounts to maintain growth and cell functioning to complete the life cycle through reproductions. However, pregnant women in developing countries like Ethiopia are vulnerable to multiple micro-nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the serum level of metals and associated factors like dietary diversity, and health-related problems in pregnant women among small-scale farming in Kellem Wellega, western Ethiopia. A cross-sectional laboratory-based study was conducted from June to August 2021 on 417 pregnant women attending antenatal care at rural healthcare facilities. Data was collected by using per-tested structured questionnaires via face-to-face interviews. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24.0, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between predictor and outcome variables. A statistically significant was considered at p value < 0.05 for all the analyses. Our study findings showed that 62.1, 80.9, and 71.9% of the participants were deficient in iron, zinc, and copper micro-nutrient levels, respectively. Pregnant women who could not have formal education were 3.24 (AOR = 3.24, 95% CI 1.33-7.91) and 3.98 (AOR = 3.98, 95% CI 1.2-13.15) times more likely to show zinc and copper deficiency than those who attended secondary school and above, respectively. Furthermore, pregnant women involved only in farming activities were 0.57 (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.91) and 4.33 (AOR = 5.72, 95% CI 2.34-13.97) times more likely to be exposed to iron and zinc deficiency than those who were engaged in other activities. This study revealed that pregnant women with low income were 6.36 times more likely to be exposed to zinc micro-nutrient deficiencies than those with high-income participants (AOR = 6.36, 95% CI 1.47-27.61). Additionally, those participants who ate a varied diet between 1 and 4 items per day were 2.26 (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.43-3.59) and 2.77 (AOR = 2.77, 95% CI 1.6-4.61) times more likely to suffer zinc and copper micro-nutrient insufficiency than those who consumed 5-10 items per day. Finally, pregnant women who developed diarrhea in the past three months were 1.82 (AOR = 2.77, 95% CI 1.14-2.92) and 2.52 (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.3-4.91) times more likely to be exposed to iron and copper deficiency than those who never show the symptoms, respectively. This study identified low concentrations of zinc, iron, and copper in the blood serum of pregnant women of small-scale farmers.
微量营养素需要少量摄入才能维持生长和细胞功能，从而完成生殖周期。然而，像埃塞俄比亚这样的发展中国家的孕妇容易出现多种微量营养素缺乏。因此，本研究旨在评估金属血清水平以及与饮食多样性和健康相关问题等相关因素，这些因素与小型农场的孕妇有关，研究地点在埃塞俄比亚西部的凯勒姆韦勒加。这是一项 2021 年 6 月至 8 月期间在农村医疗设施接受产前护理的 417 名孕妇中进行的基于实验室的横断面研究。数据通过面对面访谈使用预先测试的结构化问卷收集。数据分析使用 SPSS 版本 24.0 进行，使用多元逻辑回归分析来确定预测因子和结果变量之间的关联。所有分析的统计学显著性均设为 p 值<0.05。我们的研究结果表明，参与者分别有 62.1%、80.9%和 71.9%的人缺铁、锌和铜微量营养素水平不足。无法接受正规教育的孕妇患锌和铜缺乏症的可能性分别是接受过中等教育及以上的孕妇的 3.24 倍（AOR=3.24，95%CI 1.33-7.91）和 3.98 倍（AOR=3.98，95%CI 1.2-13.15）。此外，仅从事农业活动的孕妇患铁和锌缺乏症的可能性分别是从事其他活动的孕妇的 0.57 倍（AOR=0.57，95%CI 0.36-0.91）和 4.33 倍（AOR=4.33，95%CI 2.34-13.97）。本研究表明，收入较低的孕妇患锌微量营养素缺乏症的可能性是收入较高孕妇的 6.36 倍（AOR=6.36，95%CI 1.47-27.61）。此外，每天食用 1 至 4 种食物的孕妇患锌和铜微量营养素不足的可能性分别是每天食用 5 至 10 种食物的孕妇的 2.26 倍（AOR=2.26，95%CI 1.43-3.59）和 2.77 倍（AOR=2.77，95%CI 1.6-4.61）。最后，在过去三个月中出现腹泻的孕妇患铁和铜缺乏症的可能性分别是从未出现腹泻症状的孕妇的 1.82 倍（AOR=2.77，95%CI 1.14-2.92）和 2.52 倍（AOR=2.52，95%CI 1.3-4.91）。本研究发现小型农场孕妇血清中锌、铁和铜浓度较低。
