Evaluation of the Population Coverage of Mandatory Vitamin A Fortified Vegetable Oil in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Objectives: To help control vitamin A deficiency, Burkina Faso has established mandatory fortification of vegetable oil with vitamin A. The objective of this research is to evaluate the coverage of vitamin A fortified oil in the country. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative survey involving 1285 households from rural and urban settings of Burkina Faso was conducted along with vitamin A analysis of household vegetable oil samples. Results: Knowledge of vegetable oil being fortified with vitamin A among parents of children under the age of five years was low: 37% in urban areas and 23% in rural areas. Laboratory analysis showed that 99% of household vegetable oil samples were fortified with vitamin A, compared to less than 8% of samples at the start of food fortification in 2008. Among the samples analyzed, 98% from urban areas and 95% from rural areas met the national standard for vitamin A content. These results correlate with industry and government statistics indicating that 87% of oil - both locally produced and imported - sold on the market in Burkina Faso is fortified with vitamin A. Conclusions: The results showed a significant improvement in population coverage of vitamin A fortified vegetable oil in both rural and urban settings following the launch of a fortification program. The levels of vitamin A in vegetable oil samples comply with national standards and indicate that control of locally produced and imported oil is helping to ensure adequate fortification levels.