Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2001-2002 - Measure DHS

At two years, non-breastfeeding children are receiving foods made from grain twice a day likebreastfeeding children. Fruits and vegetables are consumed twice a day by both breastfeeding and nonbreastfeedingchildren at about two years. Foods enriched with oil/fat/butter—thereby increasing caloricintake—are consumed less than once a day. (These probably include foods previously reported.) Animalproducts are consumed less than once a day by both groups of children at two years of age.11.3 MICRONUTRIENTSMicronutrients are essential for the metabolic processes in the body and they play a major role inthe nutrition and health of an individual. The 2001-2002 ZDHS survey collected various types of datathat are useful in assessing the micronutrient status of young children and women.11.3.1 Salt and Sugar FortificationIn Zambia, a number of programmes aim at reducing micronutrient deficiencies. These includefood fortification, namely fortification of salt with iodine, sugar with vitamin A, and recently maize withmineral and vitamin combinations. In addition to sugar fortification, children 6 to 72 months of age mayreceive vitamin A supplements through health services and community campaigns. Women may be givenvitamin A supplements during the postpartum period (4 weeks after delivery) to assist both the motherand her breastfeeding children.Disorders induced by dietary iodine deficiency constitute a major global nutrition concern. Alack of sufficient iodine can lead to goitre, hypothyroidism, impaired mental functions, retarded mentaland physical development, and diminished school performance. Iodine deficiency in the foetus leads toincreased rates of abortion, stillbirths, congenital anomalies, cretinism, psychomotor defects, and neonatalmortality. Iodine deficiency can be avoided by using salt that has been fortified with iodine (iodised salt).Table 11.6 shows that 80 percent of the households visited in the 2001-2002 ZDHS had their salttested for iodine, while 17 percent had no salt available in the household. Less than 4 percent of householdsare consuming salt that is not iodised, 19 percent of households are consuming inadequately iodisedsalt (