Subclinical vitamin A deficiency in undersix children in Nagpur, India.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
;
1998 Jun; 29(2): 289-92
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-35770
ABSTRACT
The present cross sectional study was carried out to estimate prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency among undersix children by using conjunctival impression cytology in urban slums of Nagpur city in central India. The study population included 308 non-xerophthalmic undersix children selected randomly. Conjunctival impression cytology was performed by standard procedure. Out of 308 children 110 (35.7%) had subclinical vitamin A deficiency. Increasing prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency was non-significantly associated with advancing age. Higher prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency was observed in severely malnourished children. The prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency observed in this study (35.7%) is much more than the criteria laid down by WHO, which warrants community wide intervention. This problem assumes more significance because they are apparently healthy and if timely vitamin A supplementation is not given, any intercurrent infection is likely to worsen the vitamin A status and result in known consequences of xerophthalmia.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Urban Population
/
Vitamin A Deficiency
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Infant, Newborn
/
Poverty Areas
/
Child, Preschool
/
Prevalence
/
Cross-Sectional Studies
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
Year:
1998
Type:
Article
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