Prevalence of undernutrition and vitamin A deficiency in the Dogon Region, Mali.
OBJECTIVE
A representative sample of 1510 preschool children living in the Bandiagra circle (Mopti Region, Mali) was examined between March and April 1997 to determine the level of vitamin A deficiency.


METHODS
Using a randomized two level cluster sampling, 20 clusters of 75 children aged six months to six years were selected for evaluating xerophthalmia (XN night blindness and/or X1B Bitot spot). Concurrently stature and weight were determined. A semiquantitative seven-day dietary questionnaire was applied to the mothers of 484 infants to assess consumption of vitamin A rich foodstuffs. The prevalence of biochemical deficiency was attested using the Modified Relative Dose Response test (MRDR) on a sub-sample of 192.


RESULTS
Of the studied children, 4.3% (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 3.2-5.3) reported night blindness and 2% (95% CI: 1.3-2.7) had Bitot spots. Prevalence of xerophthalmia attested by at least one of these signs was 5.4% (95% CI: 4.2-6.5). The prevalence reached 10.5% at three years of age. The MRDR test proved abnormal in 77.1% of the subjects (95% CI: 70.3-82.7). Serum retinol was lower than 0.35 micro mol/L in 43.8% (95.6% CI: 36.9-51.3) and less than 0.70 micro mol/L in 92.7% of the children (95% CI: 87.8-95.8). Weekly consumption of vitamin A rich food was rare: 75.8% had not eaten any animal vitamin A rich food, and 22.1% had consumed less than seven times a vitamin A rich food of either vegetable or animal origin.


CONCLUSIONS
These data define vitamin A deficiency as a severe public health problem in the Bandiagara area of Mali.
D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D008460:Meat; D009755:Night Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014985:Xerophthalmia / Q000453:epidemiology
D014801:Vitamin A