Demographic and Health Survey 2009-10 - Timor-Leste Ministry of ...

Table 12.7 shows the percentage of children age 6-59 months classified as having anemia, by
background characteristics. Nearly two in five (38 percent) Timorese children age 6-59 months old
are anemic, with 25 percent mildly anemic, 13 percent moderately anemic, and less than 1 percent
severely anemic.
It is noteworthy that children 36 months and older are less likely to be anemic than younger
children. Rural children (39 percent) are slightly more likely to have anemia than urban children (33
percent). Children in Manatuto district have the highest prevalence of anemia (68 percent), and
children in Ermera district have the lowest prevalence (15 percent). There is no consistent pattern
between prevalence of anemia and mother’s education or sex of the child. Children in the highest
wealth quintile are less likely to have anemia (34 percent) compared with children in the lowest
wealth quintile (41 percent).
The levels of childhood anemia as reported in DHS 2003 show 32 percent of children are
anemic, indicating minimal improvement over the years.
12.8 MICRONUTRIENT INTAKE AMONG CHILDREN
Micronutrient deficiency has serious consequences for childhood morbidity and mortality.
Children can receive micronutrients from foods, fortified foods, and direct supplementation. Vitamin
A is an essential micronutrient for the immune system. Severe vitamin A deficiency (VAD) can cause
eye damage. VAD can also increase the severity of infections, such as measles and diarrheal diseases
in children, and can slow recovery from illness. Vitamin A is found in breast milk, other milks, liver,
eggs, fish, butter, red palm oil, mangoes, papayas, carrots, pumpkins, and dark green leafy vegetables.
The liver can store enough vitamin A for four to six months.
The 2009-10 TLDHS collected information on the consumption of vitamin A-rich foods and
supplements. Table 12.8 shows the intake of several key micronutrients among children. Nearly fourfifths
(79 percent) of last-born children age 6-35 months consumed vitamin A-rich foods in the 24hour
period before the survey. Consumption of vitamin A-rich foods increases from 38 percent among
children age 6-8 months to 93 percent among children age 24-35 months. There is no difference by
sex in the consumption of vitamin A-rich foods. Breastfeeding children are much less likely to
consume foods rich in vitamin A than nonbreastfeeding children. Urban children (87 percent) are
more likely than rural children (77 percent) to consume vitamin A-rich foods. Children born to
mothers with more than a secondary level of education are more likely to have received foods rich in
vitamin A than children born to mothers with a primary education. Children of older mothers are
somewhat more likely than their counterparts to receive vitamin A-rich foods. Children living in the
wealthiest households are much more likely to consume vitamin A-rich foods than children living in
other households.
Fifty-two percent of young children consumed foods rich in iron during the 24 hours before
the survey. Noticeable differences by background characteristics are also seen in the consumption of
iron-rich foods by young children. Consumption of iron-rich foods peaks at 60 percent among
children age 24-35 months and is slightly higher among nonbreastfeeding children, urban children,
and children of mothers age 20 and older. Children living in the wealthiest households (76 percent)
are much more likely to consume foods rich in iron than children living in households in the lowest
two wealth quintiles (less than 40 percent).
An important strategy for preventing vitamin A deficiency in Timor-Leste has been the
distribution of vitamin A capsules through the Timor-Leste national immunization campaign, which
has been in place since 2000. In addition to the campaigns, vitamin A supplements are also readily
available and distributed at health facilities and integrated community health service (SISCa) posts.
The campaigns cover all the districts in the country. During the distribution periods, children age 6-11
months receive 100,000 international units (IU), and children 12-59 months receive 200,000 IU of
vitamin A. Children under 6 months are not covered because most children in this age group are
breastfed and receive vitamin A through breast milk. Information on vitamin A and supplements is
based on the mother’s recall.
162 | Nutrition of Children and Women