title: [Vitamin A deficiency among preschool children: a re-emerging problem in Costa Rica?].
abstract: Based on the 1996 National Nutrition Survey, this study shows the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among 567 Costa Rican urban and rural 12-83 months old-children. In overall, the prevalence of VAD (plasma retinol < or = 20 micrograms/dl) was 8.8%. No difference was found even when data were analyzed by area and gender. Around 30% of preschool children were at risk of VAD (plasma retinol between 20.1-30 micrograms/dl). The proportion of children at risk for retinol deficiency was significantly higher in rural area in comparison with urban area (38.9% and 28.0% respectively, p < 0.05). Lineal regression analysis showed that plasma retinol levels were negatively related to the number of family members and positively related to mother's schooling. Our results suggest a possible impairment in vitamin A status of preschool children.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud (Inciensa).
authors.forename: Damaris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carvajal Fernández
authors.forename: Thelma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alfaro Calvo
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monge-Rojas
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003364:Costa Rica / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A