Micronutrient supplementation and child survival in India.
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Date
2010-04
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Abstract
India contributes to a large number and proportion of child deaths, both due to higher under five mortality rate and large child population cohort in the country. The micronutrient malnutrition is an ignored area as it is not a direct cause of child mortality
but a contributory factor in many deaths. The repeated surveys and studies have noted that iron deficiency anemia, vitamin
A deficiency, iodine deficiency are highly prevalent amongst the children in the country and the preventive interventions are
reaching only small proportion of 10-50% of the targeted populations. The contribution of these micronutrients (Iron, Vitamin
A, Iodine and Zinc) towards child survival depends upon number of factors that are responsible for child mortality, and these
situations vary from region to region, time to time and depend upon number of other socio demographic characteristics of the
population. This paper discusses that although there may be debate on the role of some micronutrients in reducing childhood
mortality, there is no doubt that these micronutrients are needed in small amount for overall child development. These
micronutrients, both directly and indirectly, contribute to the child survival and should reach to each and every child in the country and the strategy is proven cost effective.
Description
Keywords
Child survival, Micronutrient supplementation, Vitamin A, Iron, India
Citation
Kotecha Prakash V, Lahariya Chandrakant. Micronutrient supplementation and child survival in India. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 2010 Apr; 77(4): 419-424.