School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia.
Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2560, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Jul 4;21(7):875. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21070875.
Micronutrient deficiencies remain a public health burden among non-pregnant women in developing countries, including Nepal. Hence, this study examined micronutrient deficiencies among non-pregnant Nepalese women aged 15-49 using the 2016 Nepal National Micronutrient Status Survey (NNMSS). Data for 2143 non-pregnant women was extracted from the 2016 NNMSS. The study analysed the levels of ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), red blood cell (RBC) folate, and zinc of the participants. Multivariable logistic analysis was carried out to assess factors associated with micronutrient deficiencies. The prevalence of ferritin, sTfR, folate, and zinc was observed to be 19%, 13%, 16%, and 21%, respectively. Non-pregnant women from the Janajati region were significantly less prone to high levels of ferritin [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25, 0.80], and those who had body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m or higher had significantly elevated ferritin levels [AOR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.01, 7.17]. Non-pregnant women aged 35-49 years were significantly less predisposed to folate deficiency [AOR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.83], and the odds of zinc deficiency were significantly lower among non-pregnant women from wealthier households [AOR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.76]. This study provides further insight into screening high-risk subgroups and instituting public health interventions to address the prevailing micronutrient deficiencies among non-pregnant Nepalese women.
发展中国家（包括尼泊尔）的非孕妇女人群中，微量营养素缺乏仍然是一个公共卫生负担。因此，本研究使用 2016 年尼泊尔国家微量营养素状况调查（NNMSS）检查了 15-49 岁非孕妇尼泊尔女性的微量营养素缺乏情况。从 2016 年 NNMSS 中提取了 2143 名非孕妇的数据。该研究分析了参与者的铁蛋白、可溶性转铁蛋白受体（sTfR）、红细胞（RBC）叶酸和锌的水平。进行了多变量逻辑分析以评估与微量营养素缺乏相关的因素。铁蛋白、sTfR、叶酸和锌的患病率分别为 19%、13%、16%和 21%。与铁蛋白水平较高相关的因素有：来自 Janajati 地区的非孕妇（校正比值比 [AOR]：0.45；95%置信区间 [CI]：0.25，0.80）和 BMI 为 25kg/m2 或更高的非孕妇（AOR：2.69；95%CI：1.01，7.17）。35-49 岁的非孕妇发生叶酸缺乏的风险显著降低（AOR：0.58；95%CI：0.40，0.83），而来自较富裕家庭的非孕妇发生锌缺乏的风险显著降低（AOR：0.48；95%CI：0.31，0.76）。本研究为筛查高危亚组和实施公共卫生干预措施以解决尼泊尔非孕妇普遍存在的微量营养素缺乏问题提供了进一步的见解。
