Vitamin A supplementation and nutritional status among children 6–36 months in Northern Ghana

Background: Vitamin A deficiency impairs immune function, growth, and child survival. We investigated the association between Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) intake and nutritional status among children aged 6–36 months and identified determinants of VAS intake in northern Ghana. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of retrospectively collected longitudinal data from the Navrongo Health and Demographic Surveillance System’s coverage area. Children with mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 125 mm were considered malnourished, while MUAC ≥ 125 mm was considered well-nourished. VAS intake was classified as full intake (recommended doses per age), partial (less than required doses by age), and no VAS (never taken a dose from birth to the time of data collection). Adjusted Poisson regression analyses were used to determine the association between VAS intake and the nutritional status of children. Results: We analyzed data from 2072 children recruited from the Navrongo HDSS between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019. The distribution of VAS intake was as follows: 2% had never received VAS, 61% had partial VAS, and 37% received a full dose. Compared to partial VAS, the prevalence ratio for malnutrition was 1.14 (95% CI: 0.74–1.75) for no VAS and 1.14 (95% CI: 0.94–1.38) for full VAS. After adjusting for confounders, we found no significant association between VAS intake and nutritional status. Factors associated with increased malnutrition risk included older age, female sex, Christian caregivers, birth to unmarried mothers, and rural residence. Conclusions: Vitamin A supplementation was prevalent in the study area, with a significant proportion of children having received VAS. However, our findings suggest that VAS may not be the primary driver of nutritional status in this population. A comprehensive approach addressing the multifaceted determinants of nutritional status, particularly in rural and vulnerable populations, is crucial for optimizing child nutrition.