[Prevalence of hypovitaminosis A in children from the semiarid region of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil, 2007].
The aim of the present work was to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis A in children <60 months living in the semiarid region of the State of Alagoas, Brazil. The observational, transversal study involved a probabilistic sample of 652 children. Serum levels of retinol were determined using high pressure liquid chromatography and a concentration < 20 microg/dL (0,70 micromol/L) was adopted as the cut-off point indicating vitamin A deficiency. The mean value of retinol was 23.4 +/- 15.0 microg/dL (CI 95% = 22.3 to 24.6 microg/dL), and the prevalence of hypovitaminosis A was 44.8%, which included a significantly higher proportion of females (54.5% vs. 45.5%; odds ratio = 1.41; CI 95% = 1.02 to 1.95). Although there were no significant differences between the five different age ranges studied, the prevalence of hypovitaminosis A was marginally higher (p = 0.09) amongst 12 to 23 month old children. The results indicated that the prevalence of hypovitaminosis A in the population studied was 2.2-times greater than the prevalence established by the World Health Organization (20%) in order to characterise the situation as a severe public health problem. Hence, the control of hypovitaminosis A should constitute an absolute priority on the agenda of governmental authorities in order to guarantee better health and quality of life for this population.
Alves Vasconcelos
Alba Maria
AM
Faculdade de Nutrição da Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brasil.
Da Silva Ferreira
Haroldo
H
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014801:Vitamin A