Micronutrient Deficiencies

Question 1

What is hidden hunger?

Answer 1

Micronutrient deficiencies despite adequate calorie intake; impair growth, immunity, and development, especially in children and pregnant women.

Question 2

What are the main health consequences of Vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 2

Night blindness,
xerophthalmia,
increased child mortality,
maternal night blindness,
greater infection severity.

Question 3

What are key determinants of Vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 3

Low intake of animal foods, fruits, vegetables;

frequent infections like measles and diarrhoea.

Question 4

List 4 key interventions for preventing/treating VAD.

Answer 4

1. Dietary diversity (e.g. orange fruits, greens, eggs, dairy)
2. Supplementation (high-dose capsules for children & postpartum women)
3. Fortification (e.g. oil, margarine, sugar)
4. Biofortification (e.g. orange-fleshed sweet potato)

Question 5

What are the key health effects of zinc deficiency in children?

Answer 5

Stunting,
weakened immunity,
higher diarrhoea and pneumonia risk,
skin lesions,
appetite loss.

Question 6

What are common causes of zinc deficiency?

Answer 6

Diets high in cereals,

low in animal protein;

gut infections and diarrhoea;

coexisting protein deficiency.

Question 7

What are 5 interventions to reduce zinc deficiency?

Answer 7

1. Diverse diet (animal foods, legumes, nuts)
2. Supplementation during diarrhoea
3. Fortification (flour, rice)
4. Agronomic fortification (zinc fertilizers)
5. Biofortification (high-zinc crops)

Question 8

What are the global prevalence rates of anaemia?

Answer 8

~40% of children <5,
~37% of pregnant women,
~30% of non-pregnant women (WHO 2024).

Question 9

What are major causes of iron-deficiency anaemia?

Answer 9

Low iron intake,
high phytates,
high iron needs (e.g. pregnancy), blood loss (e.g. malaria, hookworm), frequent childbirth,
socio-cultural barriers.

Question 10

What are the health consequences of iron deficiency?

Answer 10

Fatigue,
poor cognition,
pregnancy risks (low birth weight, prematurity),
maternal/child mortality,
reduced productivity.

Question 11

Name 6 key intervention strategies for iron deficiency.

Answer 11

1. Dietary change (iron-rich foods + vitamin C)
2. Supplementation (IFA tablets, powders)
3. Fortification (flour, rice, salt)
4. Deworming/malaria control
5. Biofortification (e.g. iron beans)
6. Behaviour change & antenatal care

Question 12

What is the WHO global target for anaemia reduction?

Answer 12

50% reduction of anaemia in women of reproductive age by 2030.

Question 13

What framework helps explain anaemia causes?

Answer 13

Conceptual Framework of Anaemia – immediate (diet, disease), underlying (poverty, food insecurity), basic (education, socioeconomic status).

Question 14

What are the consequences of iodine deficiency?

Answer 14

Goiter,
cretinism,
intellectual disability,
lower child IQ.

Question 15

What causes iodine deficiency?

Answer 15

Iodine-poor soils,
lack of iodized salt or iodine-rich foods,
maternal iodine deficiency during pregnancy.

Question 16

What are 4 key strategies for IDD prevention?

Answer 16

1. Universal Salt Iodisation (potassium iodate in salt)
2. Iodine supplementation (capsules/injections)
3. Dietary diversification (e.g. seafood, dairy)
4. Agronomic biofortification (e.g. iodine in fertiliser/water)

Question 17

Which SDG targets micronutrient deficiencies?

Answer 17

SDG 2 – End all forms of malnutrition by 2030.

Question 18

Name 3 global initiatives addressing micronutrient deficiencies.

Answer 18

1. Nutrition International
2. Iodine Global Network
3. HarvestPlus

Question 19

How are micronutrient programs integrated into health systems?

Answer 19

Via child health days (vitamin A, deworming),
antenatal care (supplements), public-private partnerships.

Question 20

How is progress on micronutrient status monitored globally?

Answer 20

Through national surveys (e.g. DHS, MICS) and WHO/UNICEF reports.