PREVALENCE OF ZINC DEFICIENCY AMONG RURAL WOMEN DURING CHILDBEARING AGE IN PESHAWAR

 ABSTRACT 

Background:   Zinc is an essential element that is needed for normal human body and its deficiency causes various abnormalities.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of Zinc deficiency in females age 15-45 years in a community and find its association with age, marital status and parity.

Study Design: A cross sectional study

Setting and population: Women of child bearing age in rural locality of Peshawar.

Methods: Each Mohalla in the Village was taken as a cluster and within each cluster a sample of women was selected proportional to its population. The selection of study subjects within each cluster was done through simple random sampling method. All Child bearing age women, who had given consent, were included in the study.

Five cc random blood samples were drawn from each participant. I cc blood was mixed in EDTA for measuring hemoglobin, while serum was separated from the rest of the blood for analysis of calcium, protein and zinc levels. Serum Zinc was measured using flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu) at wavelength 213.9 by utilizing an air acetylene flame and hollow cathode lamp as a light source (Parker’s et al method). Serum protein and calcium were measured by using standard kit methods of Biuret & Bromo Cresol Green (BCG) and Baginski et al respectively. Cynamethaemoglobin method was used for determination of hemoglobin. None of the participant refused to give blood.

Zinc deficiency is defined as mild to moderate, when serum zinc levels are between 50-80 ug/dl while Zinc levels below 50ug/dl is defined as severe deficiency. Data on factors hypothesized to be associated with Zinc deficiency among women of CBA was collected on a questionnaire.  EPI INFO version 6.04 was used for data analysis.

Results: Of the total 424 women examined, 27.8 % were Zinc deficient, and 8.8% had severe Zinc deficiency. A significant difference in hemoglobin (p< 0.01) and Zinc concentration (p< 0.05) was found between married and unmarried women. Mean hemoglobin, Zinc and protein levels were significantly low in pregnant women as compared to non pregnant women, while serum calcium showed no significant change (p > 0.05).

Pregnant women were more (44%) Zinc deficient as compared to non pregnant women (20.8%) and 79.3% of pregnant women had severe Zinc deficiency of < 50 ug/dl as compared to only 20.7% seen in non pregnant women.

Mean Zinc concentration decreased with the progression of gestation period. A highly significant difference was noted in second (p< 0.0008) and third trimester (p< 0.00002) when compared to the non pregnant women as control.

Only 38.5% women had normal (> 12.0 g %) hemoglobin levels, while 27.6% were moderate to severe anemic (Hb < 10.5 g%). No significant association could be established between different cut offs of anemia and Zinc levels. Mean Zinc levels were significantly lower in women having no children as compared to women having children 1-5. Zinc levels in underweight and overweight women are significantly higher (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05) than women having normal BMI (< 23 kg/m²).

Conclusions: Severe Zinc deficiency is prevalent in pregnant women and needs urgent correction.

Key words: Zinc levels, Women of Child Bearing Age, Rural Peshawar