COVID-19 concerns among caregivers and vitamin A supplementation coverage among children aged 6-59 months in four countries in Western sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Objective: To assess child vitamin A supplementation (VAS) coverage in 2019 and 2020 and explore key factors, including COVID-19 concerns, that influenced VAS status in four sub-Saharan African countries. Design: Data from eight representative household surveys were used to assess VAS coverage. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the effect of rural/urban residence, child sex and age, caregiver education, COVID-19 concern and household wealth on VAS status. Setting: Nine (2019) and 12 (2020) districts in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Mali. Participants: 28 283 caregivers of children aged 6-59 months. Results: Between 2019 and 2020, VAS coverage increased in Burkina Faso (82·2-93·1 %), Côte d'Ivoire (90·3-93·3 %) and Mali (76·1-79·3 %) and decreased in Guinea (86·0 % to 81·7 %). Rural children had a higher likelihood of VAS uptake compared with urban children in Burkina Faso (adjusted OR (aOR) = 4·22; 95 % CI: 3·11, 5·72), Côte d'Ivoire (aOR = 5·19; 95 % CI: 3·10, 8·70) and Mali (aOR = 1·41; 95 % CI: 1·15, 1·74). Children aged 12-59 months had a higher likelihood of VAS uptake compared with children aged 6-11 months in Côte d'Ivoire (aOR = 1·67; 95 % CI: 1·12, 2·48) and Mali (aOR = 1·74; 95 % CI: 1·34, 2·26). Moderate-to-high COVID-19 concern was associated with a lower likelihood of VAS uptake in Côte d'Ivoire (aOR = 0·55; 95 % CI: 0·37, 0·80). Conclusion: The increase in VAS coverage from 2019 to 2020 suggests that COVID-19 concerns may not have limited VAS uptake in some African countries, though geographic inequities should be considered.