The Hidden Hunger among Nepalese Non-Pregnant Women Aged 15–49 Years: The Role of Individual, Household, and Community-Level Factors

Kingsley Emwinyore Agho (), Stanley Chitekwe, Biniyam Sahiledengle, Lucy Ngaihbanglovi Pachuau, Sanjay Rijal, Naveen Paudyal, Sanjeev Kumar Sahani and Andre Renzaho
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Kingsley Emwinyore Agho: School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Stanley Chitekwe: Nutrition Section, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ethiopia, Addis Ababa 1169, Ethiopia
Biniyam Sahiledengle: Department of Public Health, Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital, Bale-Goba 4540, Ethiopia
Lucy Ngaihbanglovi Pachuau: School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Sanjay Rijal: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nepal Country Office P.O. Box 1187, United Nations (UN) House, Pulchowk, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Naveen Paudyal: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nepal Country Office P.O. Box 1187, United Nations (UN) House, Pulchowk, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Sanjeev Kumar Sahani: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nepal Country Office P.O. Box 1187, United Nations (UN) House, Pulchowk, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Andre Renzaho: Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2560, Australia

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: 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 2 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.

Keywords: micronutrients; women; deficiencies; non-pregnant women; Nepal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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