Prevalence of sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency in 2-5-year-old children in Tehran.
To determine vitamin A status using conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) in children aged 2-5 years, we assessed 1257 randomly selected children in urban and rural areas of Tehran. History of using supplemental vitamin A, respiratory or diarrhoeal infection in the previous 6 months, residential location, parents' education, family economic status, and child's age, sex and weight were recorded. Sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency (defined as abnormal CIC) was found in 23.6% of the sample, a rate classified as a moderate public health problem. There was a statistically significant relationship between sex and age and abnormal CIC (P < 0.05).
Department of Paediatrics, Taleghani Hospital. rostaminahid@yahoo.com
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Rostami
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Farsar
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Shiva
D017677:Age Distribution; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology