 |
|
Risk Factors for Developing Mild Nutritional Blindness in Urban Bangladesh
Bonita F. Stanton, MD;
John D. Clemens, MD;
Bogdan Wojtyniak, DSC;
Tajkera Khair, MSc
Am J Dis Child. 1986;140(6):584-588.
Abstract
• Mild vitamin A deficiency may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries. A community-based case-control study was performed to determine risk factors for mild ophthalmologic manifestations of vitamin A deficiency in urban Bangladeshi children. Cases were identified in children less than 14 years of age with night blindness with or without other signs of mild xerophthalmia detected in a house-to-house survey. Controls were randomly selected neighbors who lacked subjective and objective ophthalmologic evidence of vitamin A deficiency. Demographic characteristics that were independently associated with vitamin A deficiency in a logistic model included male gender, greater age (mean, 6.1 years in children with cases and 2.8 years in controls), and a greater number of children living with the family. After controlling for these demographic characteristics, poor intake of locally available vitamin A–rich foods, cessation of breast-feeding, and a recent history of protracted diarrhea remained associated with vitamin A deficiency. Maternal ignorance of prevention and control of vitamin A deficiency was also associated with increased risk. The results support programs that educate mothers to breast-feed and to provide appropriate food supplements and suggest that clinicians caring for children with chronic diarrhea should initiate vitamin A supplementation.
(AJDC 1986;140:584-588)
Author Affiliations
From the Urban Volunteer Program, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Feb 13, 1986.
Reprint requests to International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDD,B), GPO Box 128, Dhaka-2, Bangladesh (Dr Stanton).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Delicious  Digg  Facebook  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Breast-Feeding Status Alters the Effect of Vitamin A Treatment During Acute Diarrhea in Children
Bhandari et al.
J. Nutr. 1997;127:59-63.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
