Abstract
Introduction:
In Cambodia, micronutrients have remained public health concerns particularly among mothers and
children. Anemic mothers increased the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. Also, maternal folic acid
deficiency leads to neural tube defect and congenital heart defect to new born. For children
micronutrient deficiency could lead to poor health outcomes such as fifty percent of vitamin A
deficient children died after they lost their sight. Children with impaired mental function could be
caused by iodine deficiency. Zinc deficiency was responsible for 4% of children morbidity and
mortality. This study aimed at assessing the association between maternal micro-nutritional status
and children’s micro-nutritional status.
Methods:
We analyzed the data from the national micronutrient survey in 2014 with main outcomes of
micronutrient variables among children 6-59 months including iron (ferritin and soluble transferrin
receptor), vitamin A, iodine, folic acid, and zinc. There was a total sample of 666 mothers and 467
children. Cut off level of each micronutrient of mothers and children were generated. Each
micronutrient was tested for linear trend by age groups of children (6-12 months, 13-36 months, 37-
59 months). Binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to assess the main effect,
the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of the association between micronutrients of mothers and children.
Results:
Ferritin and sTfR were significantly associated with age groups of children. The trend of odds
(p<0.001) indicated the decrease in odds of the micronutrients with increase of age groups for both
ferritin and sTfR. The multivariate analysis found the following results: sTfR (AOR=3.99, 95%CI:2.61-
6.10, p<0.001), vitamin A (AOR=15.15, 95%CI:4.04-52.13, p<0.001), iodine (AOR=2.71, 95%CI:1.74-
4.24, p<0.001), and zinc (AOR=4.12, 95%CI:2.12-8.01, p<0.001) of children were all statistically
significant related with maternal micronutrients. Iodine deficient children was less common in urban
than those in rural area (AOR=0.50, 95%CI:2.61-6.10, p=0.013). Folic acid deficiency was found three
time higher in children with parasitic infection (AOR=3.08, 95%CI:1.14-8.36, p=0.027).
Conclusion:
Ferritin deficiency and elevation of sTfR were less common when children grew older. Overall, there
were significant association between children’s micronutrient (sTfR, vitamin A, iodine, and zinc) and
maternal micronutrients. This could be signified that the micronutrients of children varied by the level
of their mother’s micronutrients. We found no relationship between child’s ferritin and folic acid, and
maternal micronutrients. Mothers or caregivers should be involved actively in nutrition education for
better understanding which food is beneficial and fit with their children’s needs. The addition of
essential micronutrients in fortified food should be widely distributed with affordable cost and be
reachable for specific target groups. Constant follow up is also important to confirm mothers or
caregivers’ understating and practice.