Does Small Scale Cereal-based Fortification Hold the Key to Improved Micronutrient Status in Ethiopia? The Case of Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 in Teenage Girls in Arba Minch, Ethiopia
Folic acid and vitamin B12 play an interdependent role in key cellular processes, namely deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, cell division, red blood cell formation, and nervous system myelination. A deficiency of either vitamin will predispose teenagers to many diseases, which persist across their lifespan. Fortification of food with micronutrients has been promoted to reduce micronutrient deficiencies. A large segment of vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) resides in rural settings and has limited access to large-scale commercialized fortified foods. In such operational constraints, the use of locally (small-scale) fortified cereals could be an alternative intervention. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of small scale folic acid and vitamin B12 fortified cereals in improving folate and vitamin B12 status, growth velocity, puberty status, anaemia, cognitive development and mental health among teenage girls, in rural rift valley of Ethiopia.
⁃ Teenage girls between 13 and 19 years of age who live in households at Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites (AM-HDSS) are eligible to participate in the study if:
• One or both of their parents signed an informed consent form and the girl's agreement.
• Their parents and the girl planned to stay in the study area during the period of the study (minimum 6 months) in the kebele.
• Both parents and girls accept the intervention packages including blood draws and home visits.