Evidence mapPaperPMID 40993632Full record

SynthesisBMC pediatrics2025

Vitamin A supplementation coverage and associated factors among Ethiopian children under five years: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Berhanu Wale Yirdaw, Abrham Maru Moges, Setargew Kebie Awoke, Maritu Ayalew Agmas, Asmare Yimer Mekonen, Abusew Yehuala Abebe, Ashebir Mamay Gebiru, Jember Ayelgne Beyene, Bimrew Bayuh Yimer

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Berhanu Wale YirdawDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, Teda Health Science College, P.O.BOX: 790, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia. berhanuwale7@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0003-0489-9634
Abrham Maru MogesDepartment of Psychiatry, Teda Health Science College, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Setargew Kebie AwokeDepartment of Public Health, Teda Health Science College, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Maritu Ayalew AgmasDepartment of Midwifery, Teda Health Science College, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Asmare Yimer MekonenDepartment of Nutrition, Teda Health Science College, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Abusew Yehuala AbebeDepartment of Nutrition, Teda Health Science College, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Ashebir Mamay GebiruDepartment of Epidemiology, Teda Health Science College, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Jember Ayelgne BeyeneDepartment of Epidemiology, Teda Health Science College, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Bimrew Bayuh YimerDepartment of Epidemiology, Teda Health Science College, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVitamin A deficiency remains a critical public health issue in Ethiopian children under five years, significantly contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Despite national supplementation programs, coverage is low and regionally varied. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize existing evidence on vitamin A supplementation coverage and associated factors in Ethiopian children under five, crucial for enhancing child health interventions.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Medline, HINARI, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar from March 25 to April 17, 2025, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Additional studies were identified through reference checking. Eligibility criteria guided article selection, and study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Publication bias was evaluated via Funnel plot inspection and Egger's test, while heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane Q and I² tests. A random effects meta-analysis in STATA 17 computed the pooled estimate of vitamin A supplementation practice.

resultsOur review included a total of 11 studies, encompassing 32,361 study participants. The meta-analysis revealed that the overall coverage of vitamin A supplementation among children under the age of five years in Ethiopia was 53.43% (95% CI: 42.81-64.05). Key factors significantly associated with vitamin A supplementation coverage included family wealth status, maternal antenatal care (ANC) visits, mothers' access to vitamin A information, and mothers' educational status.

conclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed that vitamin A supplementation coverage in Ethiopia is critically low, standing at just 53.43%. This falls well below the 95% national target and the 80% WHO and UNICEF threshold, highlighting an urgent need for intensified interventions. Our findings offer clear guidance for policymakers and public health implementers: focus on empowering mothers through education and information, promoting consistent antenatal care (ANC) attendance, and addressing socioeconomic disparities to significantly boost national vitamin A supplementation coverage.

trial registrationPROSPERO registration number: CRD420251017115.

Indexed as

Dietary SupplementsVitamin AVitamin A DeficiencyVitaminsChild, PreschoolEthiopiaFemaleHumansInfantPrenatal CareVitamin AVitaminsAssociated factorsCoverageEthiopiaMeta-analysisPracticeSystematic reviewUnder five childrenVitamin AVitamin A supplementationVitamin A uptake

Identifiers

PMID40993632
PMCPMC12462258

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.