Vitamin A Supplementation Awareness, Attitudes and Beliefs Among Caregivers of Children Aged 6-59 Months Old in Harare City, 2022

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency is one of the leading micro-nutrient deficiencies of public health importance in Harare City. Provision of vitamin A supplements every six months is an inexpensive, safe, quick and effective way to improve vitamin A status and save children’s lives. Many countries globally have successfully combated the effects of VAD with coverages above 80%. Harare City VAS coverage has been stagnant for the past five years. An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted in December 2022 to determine vitamin A supplementation awareness, attitudes and beliefs among mothers of children under five years’ old attending Harare City health department polyclinics. Data collection was qualitative and quantitative using interviewer-based structured questionnaires. A systematic random sampling technique was used where every third caregiver seated on the waiting benches at every health facility was recruited. Factors associated with the awareness of VAS were computed using Chi-square and logistic regression. Twenty-eight key informants comprising of health care workers were conveniently selected upon availability at the health facility. 339 participants were enrolled; (97%) female and (3%) male; 88.9% were in the reproductive age of 18-37years. Ninety-three percent reported having heard about vitamin A; 79% were able to identify a vitamin A capsule; 80% could correctly name the schedule, route of administration and the recipients of VAS. Health care workers were the major source of VAS information (94%). Knowledge of foods rich in vitamin A was found to be associated with knowledge on vitamin A deficiency symptoms at p=0. Most of the caregivers were positive and supportive of VAS citing usefulness (98.5%), advising others on VAS (97%), willing to attend VAS services (99.1%) though 56.3% mentioned they would not discuss it with others. Caregivers noted that VAS information was not enough (86.5%) with the main hindrances being unawareness of the schedule (35%), forgetfulness (27.2%) and lack of family support (15.7%). Caregiver gender (p=0.010), education level (p=0.000), VAS status coverage (p=0.003) were found to be significantly associated with awareness of VAS. Multivariate regression found that attitudes and beliefs were significantly associated with awareness of VAS at p˂0.01. The study concluded a lack of awareness on vitamin A and VAS among caregivers and health care workers. The main tasks recommended include education of both stakeholders involved on vitamin A and VAS, training of health care workers on VAS and community advocacy and mobilization to improve VAS awareness on all members of the community.