Frequency of Zinc Deficiency in Exclusively Breast Fed Infants Presenting in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bahawalpur; Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To assesses the frequency of zinc deficiency in exclusively breast feeding infants presenting at a tertiary care hospital.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Pediatric Unit 1, BV Hospital Bahawalpur from June 2016 to September 2016.

Materials and Methods: The patients were selected by non - probability continuous sampling technique in this study. After the approval of ethical committee of hospital informed consent in the form of written was taken from the parents of infants. The demographic data, the person name, age, birth gestational age, weight were noted. Blood samples were taken from each baby and sent to a hospital laboratory to assess serum zinc level. The data was classified as gender, weight and socioeconomic status. The chi-square test was used to compare the zinc deficiency between the stratified groups. P value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: In 35% patients zinc deficiency was observed. The 42 males and 46 females   were observed with zinc deficiency in our study. A statistically significant difference between sex and zinc deficiency was observed, with p value of 0.0014 With respect to weight, 166 cases were observed with weigh less than 7 kg, out of which 55 were with zinc deficiency. 84 children were with weight more than 7 Kg, out of which 28 were with zinc deficiency. A statistically insignificant difference between body weight and zinc deficiency was observed, with a p value of 0.974.

The 24 children have higher socioeconomic status, and 5 of them have zinc deficiency in their bodies. Out of 148 cases with lower socioeconomic status 61 cases of zinc deficiency.19 cases of middle class group had zinc deficiency. Statistically, there is a significant difference between socioeconomic status and zinc deficiency and p value is 0.141.

Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of zinc deficiency in breastfeeding infants was 33%. Gender and socioeconomic status are important determinants of zinc deficiency.