Magnitude of vitamin A deficiency in primary school children of Sirur: A chronically drought affected area

1984 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Pratinidhi ◽  
V. S. Bapat ◽  
Usha Shah
2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (sup1) ◽  
pp. s43-s50 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. van Stuijvenberg ◽  
M. Faber ◽  
M. A. Dhansay ◽  
C. J. Lombard ◽  
N. Vorster ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Augustin Nawidimbasba ZEBA ◽  
Jean Fidèle Bationo ◽  
Olivier Ouahamin Sombié ◽  
Jeoffray Diendéré

Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is still a public health problem across the globe and also in Burkina Faso, especially for under-five-years-old children. Since less information is available about the prevalence of VAD among the primary school children, this study aimed to study this area. Methods: A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the effect of high dose of vitamin A (VA) and daily zinc versus high dose of VA and daily zinc placebo (6 days per week) during four months among the primary school children. Of the total number of 200 school children, 100 were allocated to two random groups. Participants’ gender, age, weight, and height were measured, a blood smear was performed for malaria diagnosis, stool samples were collected for intestine parasites’ assessment, and blood samples were collected for haemoglobin and serum retinol measurement. Results: Baseline data of 183 school children were analysed and the findings showed that 20.6% of the school children were underweight (23.2% in girls vs. 16.5% in boys; P = 0.043). Anemia affected 36.2%, 39% had Plasmodium Falciparum, and 37.6% had intestine parasites. Furthermore, VAD prevalence was 46.1% (51.0% in boys vs. 41.2% in girls; P = 0,072). Conclusion: Among primary school children in the Western part of Burkina Faso, VAD is not only higher than other regions of the country, but also twice the critical level and defined as a severe public health problem by WHO. This result calls for action among the primary school children and recalls the importance of taking strategies against VAD among under-five-year-old children.


Author(s):  
Jane Florida Kalumpiu ◽  
Yenny Djuardi ◽  
Taniawati Supali

Background<br />Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection is still a health problem in Indonesia. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is often found together with STH. The effect of the deworming program on the vitamin A status of primary school children is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of albendazole on serum retinol concentrations in primary school children.<br /><br />Methods<br />An experimental study of pre-post test design without control was carried out on 118 children from grades 3-5 at one primary school in North Jakarta, from July to September 2014. Flotac examination was used to determine STH infections and high performance liquid chromatography was performed to measure serum retinol concentration. Stool and blood samples were taken twice: before and three weeks after treatment with albendazole 400 mg single dose for three consecutive days given to all children either infected or uninfected. Paired t-test was used to analyze the data. <br /><br />Results<br />Of the 118 children, the prevalence of STH was 71.2%. The prevalence of low retinol serum (&lt;1.05 mmol/L) was 17 (17.2%) and of mild VAD was 2 (2.0%). Albendazole given in 3 consecutive days could not increase serum retinol concentrations (p=0.055). Serum retinol concentration significantly increased after albendazole treatment in children with low retinol serum at baseline (p=0.001). <br /><br />Conclusions<br />In children with low serum retinol concentration, treatment with albendazole increased retinol concentration. Integrated deworming and vitamin A supplementation strategies should be evaluated in this population.


Author(s):  
Sunil Pal Singh Chajhlana ◽  
Ramakrishna Narashimha Mahabhasyam ◽  
Maruti Sarma Mannava Varaprasada

Background: The school age period is nutritionally significant because this is the prime time to build up body stores of nutrients in preparation for rapid growth of adolescence. Malnutrition remains the world’s most serious health problem and the single biggest contributor to child mortality, nearly one third of the children in the developing world are either underweight or stunted and more than 30% of the developing world’s population suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. However the data available from urban slums of Hyderabad in this age group is very sparse and hence an attempt has been made to study the same. The objectives were to determine the nutritional status of primary school children and study the factors associated with it.Methods:Study population:  Primary school children (6 to 11 years). Study area: primary schools in urban slums of Hyderabad. Study design: a cross sectional study. Sample size: 412 children. Sampling methods:  Simple random sampling Data collection: By using pre designed and pre tested and pre coded schedule (interview technique, observation, clinical examination). Analysis: By using Microsoft Excel 2007 and Epi Info 3.5.3.Results: The prevalence of underweight was 28.9%, overweight was 9.2% and obesity was 4.4% . Prevalence of stunted height was found among 21.8%. 5.8% children were suffering from Vitamin’ A’ deficiency, 15.0% were suffering from Vitamin B deficiency, and 15.8% were found to be anemic.Conclusions:The prevalence of underweight, Nutritional deficiencies were found to be significantly higher in children of illiterate parents’ and similarly in unskilled worker fathers’ and unemployed mothers. 


1999 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay Chaturvedi ◽  
O. P. Aggarwal

A total of 679 primary school children drawn from developed southern parts and underdeveloped eastern parts of Delhi were examined for ocular morbidity. Their age range was 5-15 years and both sexes had almost equal representation. The prevalence of eye diseases was relatively high. Over 40 percent of all the children studied had one or more ocular problems. Trachoma (18%) was the most common ocular morbidity followed by vitamin A deficiency (10.6%), visual acuity <6/9 (7.4%) and apparent / latent squint (7.4%). In most of these eye disorders, the majority of the children came from the underdeveloped eastern parts of Delhi. Ocular morbidity seems to be unevenly distributed in rural Delhi with a significantly worse picture in the underdeveloped eastern parts, across the river ‘Yamuna’. Though blinding trachoma may cease to be a major problem in India, the country continues to have endemic pockets of its non-blinding form. One puzzling observation was that children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) did not show any specific vulnerability to ocular diseases. In fact, those with normal weight-height index were having a higher share of eye diseases. Though this issue needs to be explored further in the light of biological plausibility, it appears that children who do not have PEM are also exposed to ocular diseases at least with comparable risk.


Author(s):  
Rahul Roy ◽  
Aparna Gupta ◽  
Monica Chaudhry

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Sufficient data on occurrence of ocular morbidities associated with vitamin A deficiency (VAD) amongst school children was not available. Hence this study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of clinical forms of vitamin A deficit among the primary school children in relation to socio-economical status and BMI associated risks related to VAD.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A randomized sampling study was designed among school children of 6-16 years of age after taking consent form from principal and teachers of different schools in Taoru Tehsil of South Haryana. A predesigned performa was used to collect the information.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Total 300 school children were examined for VAD, out of which 157 (52.3%) were boys and 143 (47.7%) were girls. Among the school children 53 (13.7%) students were under the age group of 6-11 years and 247 (86.3%) students were 12-16 years. Prevalence of VAD was observed in17 (5.7%) students, among them1 (0.3%) was associated with night blindness, 1(0.3%) conjunctival xerosis and 14 (5%) with bitots spot. Among 17 VAD suspects 13 (76.5%) were girls and 4 (23.5%) were boys. According to modified Kuppuswamy scale of Socio-economic status 48 (16%) students belongs to class III, 229 (76.33%) students from class IV and 23 (7.66%) students from class V. Out of 17 VAD suspects 2 (11.76%) belongs to class III, 14 (82.35%) belongs to class IV and 1 (5.88%) belongs to class V. Out of 17 VAD suspects all 17 (100%) were underweight.</p><strong>Conclusions:</strong>Socio-economic status and BMI index were closely associated with VAD. Prevention, early recognition, prompt treatment of ocular diseases by regular screening of students and nutritional education in schools would definitely decreases the risk of ocular abnormalities.<p> </p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Kishor Pandurang Kadu ◽  
Smita Kishor Kadu ◽  
Santosh Yadavrao Ingle

Background: Adequate data on occurrence of ocular morbidities associated with vitamin A deficiency amongst school going children was not available. So, our study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among the primary school children in relation to socio-economical status. Methods: The study was designed among school children of 5-15 years of age after taking consent form from principals of different schools in the rural areas of Amravati district in Maharashtra. A predesigned proforma was used to collect the information. Results: Total 600 school children were examined for Vitamin A deficiency, out of which 314 (52.50%) were boys and 286 (47.75%) were girls. Among the school children 106 (13.7%) students were under the age group of 5-10 years and 494 (86.3%) students were 11- 15 years. According to modified Kuppuswamy scale of Socio-economic status 96 (16%) students belongs to class III, 458 (76.33%) students from class IV and 46 (7.66%) students from class V. Prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency was observed in 34 (5.7%) students, among them 6 (17.64%) had conjunctival xerosis and 28 (82.35%) had bitot’s spot. Among 34 Vitamin A deficiency children 22 (64.70%) were girls and 12 (35.29%) were boys. Conclusion: The presence of ocular morbidity in relation to vitamin A deficiency was observed in students with low socio-economic classes. Prevention, early intervention and treatment of ocular diseases by regular screening of students and nutritional education in schools would definitely decrease the risk of ocular abnormalities. Keywords: HVitamin A deficiency, xerophthalmia.


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