Knowledge on Vitamin A and Household Consumption Frequency of Vitamin A-Rich Foods among Rural Population in Some Selected Villages, Chandina, Cumilla, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Vitamin A (retinol) is an essential, fat soluble nutrient stored in body organs, mainly the liver. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for maintaining eye health and vision, growth, immune function and survival. Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most serious health problems in developing countries. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge on vitamin A and household consumption frequency of vitamin A-rich foods in some selected villages Chandina, Cumilla, Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 480 adult populations residing in some selected villages in Chandina, Cumilla, Bangladesh using a self-administered questionnaire from October 2021 to December 2021. Data were analyzed using computer software like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel. The study revealed that most of the respondents were in more than 45 years age groups (42.0%) and majority of them were female 291(60.62%) with Muslim predominant 440(91.67%). In concern of education more than 40.0% of them were completed secondary level 161(33.54%) and maximum of them were housewife 261(54.38%). More than 40.0% respondent's monthly family income was BDT 10,000-20,000(41.88%). About 66.88% participants had knowledge on vitamin A and maximum of them got this inform from health assistant 178(55.45%). According to vitamin A capsule given to your children, most the respondents told that they have given to their children (90.03%). According to their specific knowledge about vitamin A, most the respondents told about vitamin A maintains only eye health 171(53.27%), then followed by vitamin A deficiency only causes night blindness 95(29.60%), vitamin A helps in immunity 24(7.48%), vitamin A helps in digestion 13(4.05%), vitamin A maintains only skin health 11(3.43%) and vitamin A makes us healthy 7(2.18%). Regarding household consumption of vitamin A-rich foods, most of the respondents told that they eat green leafy vegetables less than 2 kg/week, carrot less than 2 kg/week, sweet potato less than 2 kg/week, pumpkin less than 2 kg/week, tomato 2-3 kg/week, papaya/coloured fruits less than 2 kg/week, liver less than 1 kg/week, small fish 1-2 kg/week, whole milk 1-2 L/week, egg 1-2 dozen/week. For cooking most of the respondents used vitamin A fortified soybean oil regularly 244(76.01%). In general the knowledge of study population regarding the importance of vitamin A was quiet satisfactory but frequency of consumption vitamin A-rich foods was still poorer in rural areas.