Sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia among Vietnamese children less than five years of age.
The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia in Vietnamese children. For this, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 40 villages (clusters) of four ecological regions in Vietnam during Apr-May 2001. In total 1657 children less than 5 years old were included by a cluster random sampling method. The prevalence of sub clinical vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol <0.70 mumol/l) was 12.0% and the prevalence of anemia (hemoglobin <110g/l) was 28.4 %. 35.1%. In the children under 6 months the prevalence of sub clinical vitamin A deficiency was 35.1 % whereas the prevalence of anemia in this group was as high as 61.7%. The prevalence of children with both sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia was 6.1%. Sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia prevalence differed significantly across the regions, with highest prevalence in the Northern Mountainous areas for vitamin A deficiency and in the Northern Mountainous area and Mekong River Delta for anemia. It is concluded that sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia are still important public health problems in Vietnam. Sustainable strategies for combating vitamin A deficiency and nutritional anemia are needed and should concentrate on target groups, especially infants and malnourished children in high risk regions.
Khan
Nguyen Cong
NC
National Institute of Nutrition, 48B Tang Bat Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam. nckhan@hn.vnn.vn
Ninh
Nguyen Xuan
NX
Van Nhien
Nguyen
N
Khoi
Ha Huy
HH
West
Clive E
CE
Hautvast
Joseph G A J
JG
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D014801:Vitamin A