Determinants of night blindness in Bangladesh.

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a community-based health education intervention programme and to study the determinants of night blindness in Bangladesh. The intervention programme was implemented to reduce the morbidity of nutritional blindness (night blindness) in the northern part of Bangladesh (Ranjpure district) during 1986-1989. A baseline study in 1986 covered 2010 households with a total population of 11,600, and the evaluation study in 1989 covered 2011 households with a total population of 10,456. Prevalence of night blindness was studied among children aged < 9 years in these households. The prevalence of night blindness per 1000 children was reduced significantly during the intervention period from 50.7 in 1986 to 26.7 in 1989. However, the post-intervention prevalence varied significantly between areas. Multivariate analyses showed that consumption of fish, meat, milk or eggs, dark green leaf vegetables, yellow fruits and vitamin A capsules were significant predictors of night blindness. In addition, family income, mother's literacy, family size and area of residence exhibited strong and statistically significant associations with night blindness in the 1989 cross-sectional study. The prevalence of night blindness was highest among 4-6 year old girls and 7-8 year old boys. The sex difference was, however, not statistically significant.

ABSTRACT

PIP A community-based health education intervention program was implemented over the period 1986-89 in the northern Bangladesh district of Ranjpure in hopes of reducing the level of morbidity due to nutritional blindness. This cross-sectional study reports findings from an evaluation of the effects of the program and the determinants of night blindness in the country. The baseline study in 1986 assessed the prevalence of night blindness among children under 9 years old in 2010 households with a total population of 11,600. The evaluation study of 1989 covered comparably aged individuals in 2011 households with a total population of 10,456. The data indicate that the prevalence of night blindness was reduced from 50.7% to 26.7% over the period, but post-intervention prevalences varied significantly between areas. Where fish, meat, milk or eggs, dark green leaf vegetables, yellow fruits, and vitamin A capsules were consumed in comparatively larger quantities, the prevalence of night blindness was significantly lower. Likewise, higher family income, higher mother's literacy, and smaller family size were associated with lower prevalence of night blindness in the 1989 cross-sectional study. Area of residence was strong and statistically significant as a determinant factor. Finally, the prevalence of night blindness was highest among 4-6 year old girls and 7-8 year old boys, yet the sex difference was not statistically significant.