THE EFFECTS OF MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES ON MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH IN MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

ABSTRACT Background: Micronutrient Deficiencies (MNDs) are of great public health and socioeconomic importance worldwide. They affect low-income countries but are also a significant factor in health problems in industrialized societies with impacts among wide vulnerable groups in the population, including women, children, the middle-aged, and the elderly. They affect all populations in Europe and more severely in the transition Countries of Eastern Europe (CEE),the former Soviet Union, and Countries of Central Asia (CAR) (Tulchinsky 2000). Objective: the effects of micronutrient deficiencies on maternal and child health in Mogadishu, Somalia. Finding: Table 1 showed that the majority of respondents were male, 52 (65.0%) of the total respondents. Table 2 showed that the majority of the respondents aged 20–30 were 57 (71%) of the total respondents. Table 3 showed that the majority educational level of the bachelors among the respondents was 39, and their percentage was 48.8% of the total percentage. Table 4 showed that the majority of respondents with single marital status were 48 respondents, and their percentage was 60.0% of the total percentage. Table 5 showed that the 25 respondents, or 31.3% of the total, had 1-2 years of experience, which was the majority of respondents. Conclusion: micronutrient deficiencies have a significant impact on maternal and child health in Mogadishu, Somalia. These deficiencies can lead to a range of adverse health outcomes, including increased risk of maternal mortality, low birth weight, stunted growth, and impaired cognitive development in children. Most households get sufficient amounts of dietary iodine through drinking water. It is thus not recommended to increase the coverage of iodized salt throughout Somalia. Recommendation: To improve Implement targeted nutritional education and counselling programs for pregnant women and caregivers of children to raise awareness about theimportance of a balanced diet rich in essential micronutrients to help prevent deficiencies and improve maternal and child health outcomes and to provide access to micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women and children, especially in areas where deficiencies are prevalent, and can help bridge the gap between nutrient requirements and dietary intake,reducing the risk of adverse health outcomes.