title: The role of prenatal nutrition assistance on the prevalence of night blindness in pregnant adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In developing countries, night blindness is a very common public health problem among pregnant women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the effect of the changes occurred on prenatal care concerning prenatal nutritional care on the occurrence of night blindness (XN) in adult pregnant women in public maternity hospital in Rio de Janeiro between 1999-2001 and between 2007-2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cross-sectional studies were conducted, been the first one conducted between 1999-2001 and the second one between 2007-2008. Were studied 402 puerperal women, 225 between 1999-2001 (GI) and 177 between 2007-2008 (GII). The gestational XN was investigated during the immediate puerperium (GI) and during the prenatal/puerperium (GII), diagnosed by the World Health Organization. The study collected sociodemographic, clinical, obstetric, anthropometric and prenatal care information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It verified significant reduce of prevalence of gestational XN (GI = 18.7% e GII = 0.6%, p < 0.001). The occurrence of gestational XN was associated to sanitary conditions, education level, more than six prenatal consultations, miscarriage at last pregnancy, higher average number of deliveries, average number of prenatal care consultations and prenatal nutritional (p < 0.05). There was no association between gestational XN and marital status, skin color, pre-gestational nutritional status, adequacy of gain of total gestational weight, gestational anaemia and average number of pregnancies (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inclusion of nutritional care in routine prenatal care may have contributed to the reduction of gestational XN. Studies to assess the nutritional intervention in the prevention and treatment of gestational XN at regions at greatest risk are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Josué de Castro Institute of Nutrition (UFRJ/INJC). Research Group on Maternal and Child Health (GPSMI-UFRJ/INC).. paugustorn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Paulo Augusto
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro Neves
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Josué de Castro Institute of Nutrition (UFRJ/INJC). Research Group on Maternal and Child Health (GPSMI-UFRJ/INC)..
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Josué de Castro Institute of Nutrition (UFRJ/INJC). Research Group on Maternal and Child Health (GPSMI-UFRJ/INC)..
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Carvalho Padilha
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Josué de Castro Institute of Nutrition (UFRJ/INJC). Center of Research for Micronutrients (NPqM-UFRJ/INJC). Brazil..
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009755:Night Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult