Prevalence of vitamin a deficiency among pre-school and school-aged children in Arssi Zone, Ethiopia
Asrat, Y.T.; Omwega, A.M.; Muita, J.W.G.
East African Medical Journal 79(7): 355-359
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 12638829 DOI: 10.4314/eamj.v79i7.8838Document Number: 244334
To investigate vitamin A status of pre-school and school aged children in the study area. Cross-sectional. Arssi, Ethiopia. Four hundred and two children. Night blindness, Bitots spot, corneal xerosis, corneal ulceration and corneal scar were observed in 7.2%, 2.2 %, 0.2%, 0.5%, and 0.5% of the children respectively. The prevalence of xerophthalmia was higher in school aged children than pre-school children (P< 0.0001). Based on the WHO recommended cut-off level, serum retinol levels were in the "low" range (<20 microl/dl) in 51% of the children. The results indicate that vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health problem in Arssi, with higher prevalence among school aged children than pre-school children.