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A Study to Establish an Intervention Policy for Micronutrients Deficiency in Egyptian Children

Scientific research studies proved that a considerable percent of preschool children living in poor communities suffer from malnutrition particularly micronutrients malnutrition. This results from inadequate intake of healthy balanced food and inadequate utilization of available micronutrients because of infection, parasitic infestation, or other factors in the diet as phytates and tannates. Prolonged nutritional inadequacy, particularly micronutrients results in increased susceptibility to infections and growth retardation which affects the development and the mental health of children. Growth retardation, diarrhea and respiratory tract infection among preschool children are still public health problem in Egypt. The study will be conducted in a low socioeconomic standard community. In such communities illiteracy is high with influential customs and cultural practices. Families having children under 5 years will be randomly recruited. Baseline data will include sociodemographic information, common food purch sed, dietary habits and weaning diet. Anthropometric measurements, morbidity  food frequency and 24 hours recall will be taken monthly. The intervention program will include: 1- Short term intervention that provides multiple micronutrients pharmacological preparations to children having clinical symptoms of deficiency (anemia, clinical symptoms of vitamin A deficiency and severe skin manifestations of zinc deficiency) for 3 months. Those children will be considered a subgroup within the test group and will join the big group in the education program. 2-Long term intervention through education sessions for assistants from the community like nurses, educated family members, teachers and community leaders who will in turn play the main role in health and nutrition education of mothers and caregivers. This educational program should continue for 12 months. Six months after the end of  the intervention, morbidity and anthropometric data will be collected as well as food frequency and 24 hours dietary recall.
Scientific research studies proved that a considerable percent of preschool children living in poor communities suffer from malnutrition particularly micronutrients malnutrition. This results from inadequate intake of healthy balanced food and inadequate utilization of available micronutrients because of infection, parasitic infestation, or other factors in the diet as phytates and tannates. Prolonged nutritional inadequacy, particularly micronutrients results in increased susceptibility to infections and growth retardation which affects the development and the mental health of children. Growth retardation, diarrhea and respiratory tract infection among preschool children are still public health problem in Egypt.

The study will be conducted in a low socioeconomic standard community. In such communities illiteracy is high with influential customs and cultural practices. Families having children under 5 years will be randomly recruited. Baseline data will include sociodemographic information, common food purch sed, dietary habits and weaning diet. Anthropometric measurements, morbidity  food frequency and 24 hours recall will be taken monthly.

The intervention program will include: 1- Short term intervention that provides multiple micronutrients pharmacological preparations to children having clinical symptoms of deficiency (anemia, clinical symptoms of vitamin A deficiency and severe skin manifestations of zinc deficiency) for 3 months. Those children will be considered a subgroup within the test group and will join the big group in the education program. 2-Long term intervention through education sessions for assistants from the community like nurses, educated family members, teachers and community leaders who will in turn play the main role in health and nutrition education of mothers and caregivers. This educational program should continue for 12 months. Six months after the end of  the intervention, morbidity and anthropometric data will be collected as well as food frequency and 24 hours dietary recall.