Hormonal contraceptive use and vitamin A deficiency among women in Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between hormonal contraceptive use and vitamin A deficiency among women in Tanzania.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of data from 8231 women who participated in the 2010 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. Both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 1291 (weight percentage 17.8%) women reported a history of hormonal contraceptive use. The weighted prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was 36.9% (n=3027). After adjustment for potential confounders, women with hormonal contraceptive use had lower odds of vitamin A deficiency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66-0.94; P=0.009). There was a negative dose-response relationship between duration of hormonal contraceptive use and vitamin A deficiency. As compared with non-users, the odds of vitamin A deficiency decreased significantly among women who used hormonal contraceptives for 1-12 months (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40-0.84; P=0.004) and more than 12 months (aOR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.15-0.46; P<0.001). Women with a history of using oral contraceptive pills had a lower odds of vitamin A deficiency versus non-users (aOR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.37-0.65; P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In addition to contraceptive effectiveness, hormonal contraception use might have nutritional benefit in preventing vitamin A deficiency.