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  • Title: Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and its determinants among the rural pre-school children of Madhya Pradesh, India.
    Author: Arlappa N, Balakrishna N, Laxmaiah A, Raghu P, Rao VV, Nair KM, Brahmam GN.
    Journal: Ann Hum Biol; 2011 Mar; 38(2):131-6. PubMed ID: 20632779.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) continues to be a major public health nutritional problem in India, even though the National Vitamin A Prophylaxis Programme has been in operation for more than three decades. AIM: To assess the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among rural pre-school children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in rural Madhya Pradesh. A total of 8777 pre-school children were clinically examined for VAD and blood vitamin A levels were estimated in a sub-sample by dried blood spot method. RESULTS: Prevalence of night blindness and Bitot's spot, an objective sign of VAD, was 0.8% and 1.4%, respectively, and prevalence increased significantly (p < 0.001) with age. The proportion of children with blood vitamin A deficiency ( < 20 μg/dL) was 88% (95% CI: 84.8-91.2).The prevalence of Bitot's spot was significantly (p < 0.001) higher among children of lower socio-economic communities, 3-5-year age group and those of illiterate mothers. CONCLUSIONS: VAD is a major public health problem among rural children of Madhya Pradesh. Children of 3-5 years and those belonging to lower socio-economic communities are at high risk of VAD. Therefore, appropriate intervention measures are to be initiated to improve the vitamin A status of children.
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