Micronutrient Deficiencies Among School Girls from Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

A total of 413 girls, 10‐15 y, were randomly selected from nine schools. Age and exam scores were collected from the school register. Anthropometric measurements, clinical assessments and biological samples were obtained using standard techniques. The prevalence of stunting was 24.5%, and 26.4% of girls had BMI = ‐2 z scores. Entamoeba histolytica (19.8%) and Hymenolepis nana (6.3%) were the common intestinal parasites. Only 4% of the girls had hematocrits of =36%. Goiter as assessed by palpation was 45.3% and Bitot's spot prevalence was 2.4%. The local term "hima", describing night blindness, was mentioned by 27.4% of the girls, suggesting that the problem is occurring with some regularity in the study communities. Girls without goiter performed better in math than the goitrous girls (57.6% vs. 53.5%, p=0.007). Stunted girls had lower MUAC (18.1 vs. 18.8 cm, p=0.0038) and hematocrit levels (42.1 vs. 43.2%, p=0.0075). Age was correlated inversely to HAZ (r=‐0.1886, p = 0.0001) and positively to BMI (r=0.5092, p<0.0001). Maternal education was significantly associated with MUAC (p=0.0008) and BMIz scores (p=0.0221). Age (p<0.0001) and hematocrit levels (p=0.0201) were the main predictors of girls' stunting. Iodine and vitamin A, but not iron deficiency anemia, were public health problems in adolescent girls from the study communities. (Supported by Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Mekelle Univ., Ethiopia, and Oklahoma State Univ., USA).