Zinc Deficiency was a Significant Public Health Problem in Adolescent School Girls from Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Objectives: Determine the prevalence and factors contributing to zinc deficiency in adolescent school girls from Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in 413 randomly selected adolescent school girls. Anthropometric data were collected following standard procedures. Z scores were calculated using the WHO Anthroplus software. Serum zinc was analyzed by ICPMS. To avoid zinc contamination, trace mineral free gloves and pipette tips and only plasticwares were used during analysis and reagent preparation, respectively. Quality control samples (Utak Laboratories, Inc., Valencia, CA) utilized in order to verify method performances were within recommended ranges. Results: Mean (sd) serum zinc concentration was 72.3 (14.3) µg/dL. About 49.2% of the adolescent girls were zinc deficient (< 70 µg/dL). Stunted (72.3±15.9 µg/dL) and non-stunted (72.3±13.9 µg/dL) girls had comparable serum zinc concentrations. Zinc deficiency was severe in 12 and 13 year old girls as were stunting and thinness. Area of residence (p = 0.0001), water source to households (p = 0.0007) and access to household toilet facilities (p=0.0110) were significantly associated with zinc status. Conclusions: Zinc deficiency was common in adolescent girls. The fact that zinc deficiency, stunting and thinness were prevalent at 12 and 13 years of age may reflect the higher growth rate and zinc requirements related to the growth spurt. Improving hygiene and sanitation of households and multicenter surveys to better understand zinc status in Ethiopian adolescent population are recommended.