Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among pre-school and school-aged children in Arssi Zone, Ethiopia

East Afr Med J. 2002 Jul;79(7):355-9. doi: 10.4314/eamj.v79i7.8838.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate vitamin A status of pre-school and school aged children in the study area.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Arssi, Ethiopia.

Subjects: Four hundred and two children.

Results: Night blindness, Bitots spot, corneal xerosis, corneal ulceration and corneal scar were observed in 7.2%, 2.2 %, 0.2%, 0.5%, and 0.5% of the children respectively. The prevalence of xerophthalmia was higher in school aged children than pre-school children (P< 0.0001). Based on the WHO recommended cut-off level, serum retinol levels were in the "low" range (<20 microl/dl) in 51% of the children.

Conclusion: The results indicate that vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health problem in Arssi, with higher prevalence among school aged children than pre-school children.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Anthropometry
  • Child
  • Child Nutrition Disorders / blood
  • Child Nutrition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Child Nutrition Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Child Nutrition Disorders / etiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Corneal Ulcer / epidemiology
  • Corneal Ulcer / etiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Ethiopia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Night Blindness / epidemiology
  • Night Blindness / etiology
  • Nutrition Assessment
  • Nutrition Policy
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Nutritional Status
  • Population Surveillance
  • Prevalence
  • Sex Distribution
  • Vitamin A / blood
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / diagnosis
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / epidemiology*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / etiology
  • Xerophthalmia / epidemiology
  • Xerophthalmia / etiology

Substances

  • Vitamin A