[Prevalence and factors associated with vitamin A deficiency in preschool children from Teresina, Piauí, Brazil].
Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in the Northeast of Brazil. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and associated factors among preschool children in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. We studied the serum retinol levels and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of 631 children from 36 to 83 months of age. The statistical association between each of the above characteristics and serum retinol levels was investigated by univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis. Mean serum retinol was 1.21 mmol/L (95%CI: 1.17-1.25 micromol/L) and was independent of gender (p = 0.259). Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (retinol < 0.69 micromol/L) was 15.4% (95%CI: 12.7-18.4), with a tendency to decrease with age. Acceptable but not adequate retinol levels (0.70 to 1.04 micromol/L) were observed in 29% of children (95%CI: 25.2-32.4). There were positive associations between retinol levels and age, income, vitamin A supplementation, and maternal schooling. Vitamin A deficiency appeared as a moderately serious public health problem, emphasizing the importance of strategies to combat this problem in the region.
Paiva
Adriana de Azevedo
Ade A
Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas Epidemiológicas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, Brasil. aapaiva@yahoo.com.br
Rondó
Patrícia Helen de Carvalho
PH
Gonçalves-Carvalho
Cecília Maria Resende
CM
Illison
Vanessa Kristinne
VK
Pereira
Joilane Alves
JA
Vaz-de-Lima
Lourdes Rehder Andrade
LR
de Oliveira
Carmem Aparecida
CA
Ueda
Mirthes
M
Bergamaschi
Denise Pimentel
DP
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014801:Vitamin A