Evidence of grave vitamin A deficiency among lactating women in the semi-arid rural area of Makhaza in Zimbabwe. A population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the vitamin A and iron status of lactating women.


METHODS
A population-based cross-sectional descriptive study.


METHODS
A semi-arid rural area of Makhaza in Zimbabwe.


METHODS
Two hundred and seven lactating women with babies aged 2-12 months.


METHODS
Serum retinol (SR) was measured by HPLC, serum ferritin (SF) by ELIZA, haemoglobin (Hb) by HemoCue and C-reactive protein (CRP) by a turbo metric method. A seven-day recall of consumption of vitamin A containing foods was recorded.


METHODS
Relative dose response (RDR), SR, SF, Hb and CRP.


RESULTS
Dark green leafy vegetables were the main sources of vitamin A; retinol-containing foods and yellow to red fruits and vegetables were rarely consumed. Five women had elevated CRP and these women had lower SR (P < 0.001) than the rest. Forty percent of the women had vitamin A deficiency (SR < 20 microg/dl), 76% had low liver stores of vitamin A (RDR > 20%) while 15 women had both abnormal SR and abnormal RDR. Forty percent had anaemia (Hb < 12 g/l) while 12% had iron deficiency (SF < 12 microg/dl) and 4% (n = 7) had iron deficiency anaemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin A and iron deficiencies are problems of public health significance among the lactating women in the Makhaza area.
Ncube
T N
TN
Section for International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Malaba
L
L
Greiner
T
T
Gebre-Medhin
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D007774:Lactation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012423:Rural Health; D014675:Vegetables; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016387:Women's Health; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D014801:Vitamin A; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron