Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study

Mary Anyango Oyunga; David Okeyo Omondi; Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13

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Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study

Mary Anyango Oyunga, David Okeyo Omondi, Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant

Published in Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 4, Issue 3)

Received: 20 April 2016 Accepted: 29 April 2016 Published: 13 May 2016

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Abstract

Increasing awareness of the role of vitamin A (VA) in human health has led to international efforts to eliminate VA deficiency (VAD) as a public health problem. This paper examined community awareness of existence, signs and symptoms, causes, control of VAD as well as attitudes, so as to identify knowledge gaps among health workers and caretakers/mothers. This was a community-based study within the catchment areas served by health facilities offering ante-natal care services in Busia and Bungoma counties in Western Kenya. The study adopted cross-sectional design and purposive sampling technique. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with pregnant and lactating mothers and eight key informant interviews with those in charge of health facilities until saturation. Data was audio recorded, transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti version 6 software. Most respondents stated having heard about VA/VAD but very few had the correct knowledge of signs and symptoms, causes, and control of VAD. Their attitudes towards VAD and its control were generally indifferent with a general belief that they had no control over their circumstances to reduce VAD. Although VAD was prevalent in the study area, majority of the people in the community had low awareness. This study, therefore, stresses the need for health education to raise community’s awareness on VAD in such settings in order to augment prevention, control and elimination efforts.

Published in	Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 4, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13
Page(s)	55-64
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Vitamin A Deficiency, Awareness, Community, Western Kenya

References

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APA Style

Mary Anyango Oyunga, David Okeyo Omondi, Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant. (2016). Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 4(3), 55-64. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13

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ACS Style

Mary Anyango Oyunga; David Okeyo Omondi; Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant. Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2016, 4(3), 55-64. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13

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AMA Style

Mary Anyango Oyunga, David Okeyo Omondi, Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant. Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study. J Food Nutr Sci. 2016;4(3):55-64. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13

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@article{10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13,
  author = {Mary Anyango Oyunga and David Okeyo Omondi and Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant},
  title = {Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study},
  journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
  volume = {4},
  number = {3},
  pages = {55-64},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20160403.13},
  abstract = {Increasing awareness of the role of vitamin A (VA) in human health has led to international efforts to eliminate VA deficiency (VAD) as a public health problem. This paper examined community awareness of existence, signs and symptoms, causes, control of VAD as well as attitudes, so as to identify knowledge gaps among health workers and caretakers/mothers. This was a community-based study within the catchment areas served by health facilities offering ante-natal care services in Busia and Bungoma counties in Western Kenya. The study adopted cross-sectional design and purposive sampling technique. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with pregnant and lactating mothers and eight key informant interviews with those in charge of health facilities until saturation. Data was audio recorded, transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti version 6 software. Most respondents stated having heard about VA/VAD but very few had the correct knowledge of signs and symptoms, causes, and control of VAD. Their attitudes towards VAD and its control were generally indifferent with a general belief that they had no control over their circumstances to reduce VAD. Although VAD was prevalent in the study area, majority of the people in the community had low awareness. This study, therefore, stresses the need for health education to raise community’s awareness on VAD in such settings in order to augment prevention, control and elimination efforts.},
 year = {2016}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study
AU  - Mary Anyango Oyunga
AU  - David Okeyo Omondi
AU  - Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant
Y1  - 2016/05/13
PY  - 2016
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13
T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
SP  - 55
EP  - 64
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7293
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13
AB  - Increasing awareness of the role of vitamin A (VA) in human health has led to international efforts to eliminate VA deficiency (VAD) as a public health problem. This paper examined community awareness of existence, signs and symptoms, causes, control of VAD as well as attitudes, so as to identify knowledge gaps among health workers and caretakers/mothers. This was a community-based study within the catchment areas served by health facilities offering ante-natal care services in Busia and Bungoma counties in Western Kenya. The study adopted cross-sectional design and purposive sampling technique. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with pregnant and lactating mothers and eight key informant interviews with those in charge of health facilities until saturation. Data was audio recorded, transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti version 6 software. Most respondents stated having heard about VA/VAD but very few had the correct knowledge of signs and symptoms, causes, and control of VAD. Their attitudes towards VAD and its control were generally indifferent with a general belief that they had no control over their circumstances to reduce VAD. Although VAD was prevalent in the study area, majority of the people in the community had low awareness. This study, therefore, stresses the need for health education to raise community’s awareness on VAD in such settings in order to augment prevention, control and elimination efforts.
VL  - 4
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Mary Anyango Oyunga

Kenya Agriculture & Livestock Research Organization, Kisumu, Kenya
David Okeyo Omondi

Department of Nutrition and Health, Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute, Maseno University, Kisumu, Kenya
Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant

International Potato Center, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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APA Style

Mary Anyango Oyunga, David Okeyo Omondi, Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant. (2016). Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 4(3), 55-64. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13

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ACS Style

Mary Anyango Oyunga; David Okeyo Omondi; Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant. Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2016, 4(3), 55-64. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13

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AMA Style

Mary Anyango Oyunga, David Okeyo Omondi, Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant. Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study. J Food Nutr Sci. 2016;4(3):55-64. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13

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@article{10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13,
  author = {Mary Anyango Oyunga and David Okeyo Omondi and Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant},
  title = {Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study},
  journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
  volume = {4},
  number = {3},
  pages = {55-64},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20160403.13},
  abstract = {Increasing awareness of the role of vitamin A (VA) in human health has led to international efforts to eliminate VA deficiency (VAD) as a public health problem. This paper examined community awareness of existence, signs and symptoms, causes, control of VAD as well as attitudes, so as to identify knowledge gaps among health workers and caretakers/mothers. This was a community-based study within the catchment areas served by health facilities offering ante-natal care services in Busia and Bungoma counties in Western Kenya. The study adopted cross-sectional design and purposive sampling technique. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with pregnant and lactating mothers and eight key informant interviews with those in charge of health facilities until saturation. Data was audio recorded, transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti version 6 software. Most respondents stated having heard about VA/VAD but very few had the correct knowledge of signs and symptoms, causes, and control of VAD. Their attitudes towards VAD and its control were generally indifferent with a general belief that they had no control over their circumstances to reduce VAD. Although VAD was prevalent in the study area, majority of the people in the community had low awareness. This study, therefore, stresses the need for health education to raise community’s awareness on VAD in such settings in order to augment prevention, control and elimination efforts.},
 year = {2016}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Awareness in the Context of Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency Among Households in Western Kenya Using a Cross-Sectional Study
AU  - Mary Anyango Oyunga
AU  - David Okeyo Omondi
AU  - Fredrick Kobina Ebo Grant
Y1  - 2016/05/13
PY  - 2016
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13
T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
SP  - 55
EP  - 64
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7293
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20160403.13
AB  - Increasing awareness of the role of vitamin A (VA) in human health has led to international efforts to eliminate VA deficiency (VAD) as a public health problem. This paper examined community awareness of existence, signs and symptoms, causes, control of VAD as well as attitudes, so as to identify knowledge gaps among health workers and caretakers/mothers. This was a community-based study within the catchment areas served by health facilities offering ante-natal care services in Busia and Bungoma counties in Western Kenya. The study adopted cross-sectional design and purposive sampling technique. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with pregnant and lactating mothers and eight key informant interviews with those in charge of health facilities until saturation. Data was audio recorded, transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti version 6 software. Most respondents stated having heard about VA/VAD but very few had the correct knowledge of signs and symptoms, causes, and control of VAD. Their attitudes towards VAD and its control were generally indifferent with a general belief that they had no control over their circumstances to reduce VAD. Although VAD was prevalent in the study area, majority of the people in the community had low awareness. This study, therefore, stresses the need for health education to raise community’s awareness on VAD in such settings in order to augment prevention, control and elimination efforts.
VL  - 4
IS  - 3
ER  -

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