Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and its determinants among the rural pre-school children of Madhya Pradesh, India.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) continues to be a major public health nutritional problem in India, even though the National Vitamin A Prophylaxis Programme has been in operation for more than three decades.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among rural pre-school children.


METHODS
A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in rural Madhya Pradesh. A total of 8777 pre-school children were clinically examined for VAD and blood vitamin A levels were estimated in a sub-sample by dried blood spot method.


RESULTS
Prevalence of night blindness and Bitot's spot, an objective sign of VAD, was 0.8% and 1.4%, respectively, and prevalence increased significantly (p < 0.001) with age. The proportion of children with blood vitamin A deficiency ( < 20 μg/dL) was 88% (95% CI: 84.8-91.2).The prevalence of Bitot's spot was significantly (p < 0.001) higher among children of lower socio-economic communities, 3-5-year age group and those of illiterate mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
VAD is a major public health problem among rural children of Madhya Pradesh. Children of 3-5 years and those belonging to lower socio-economic communities are at high risk of VAD. Therefore, appropriate intervention measures are to be initiated to improve the vitamin A status of children.
Arlappa
N
N
National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India. arlappan@yahoo.com
Balakrishna
N
N
Laxmaiah
A
A
Raghu
Pullakhandam
P
Rao
V Vikas
VV
Nair
K Madhavan
KM
Brahmam
G N V
GN
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D009755:Night Blindness / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D014801:Vitamin A