[Prevalence and factors associated with vitamin A deficiency in preschool children from Teresina, Piauí, Brazil]. / Prevalência de deficiência de vitamina A e fatores associados em pré-escolares de Teresina, Piauí, Brasil.
Cad Saude Publica
; 22(9): 1979-87, 2006 Sep.
Article
en Pt
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16917595
ABSTRACT
Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in the Northeast of Brazil. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and associated factors among preschool children in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. We studied the serum retinol levels and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of 631 children from 36 to 83 months of age. The statistical association between each of the above characteristics and serum retinol levels was investigated by univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis. Mean serum retinol was 1.21 mmol/L (95%CI 1.17-1.25 micromol/L) and was independent of gender (p = 0.259). Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (retinol < 0.69 micromol/L) was 15.4% (95%CI 12.7-18.4), with a tendency to decrease with age. Acceptable but not adequate retinol levels (0.70 to 1.04 micromol/L) were observed in 29% of children (95%CI 25.2-32.4). There were positive associations between retinol levels and age, income, vitamin A supplementation, and maternal schooling. Vitamin A deficiency appeared as a moderately serious public health problem, emphasizing the importance of strategies to combat this problem in the region.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Vitamina A
/
Deficiencia de Vitamina A
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Límite:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Idioma:
Pt
Revista:
Cad Saude Publica
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2006
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Brasil