Risk Factors for Low Serum Vitamin A among Under-Nourished Children in Institute of Child Health, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria

Abstract

Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health problem in developing countries. An estimated 20 million pre-school children are at risk of VAD in Africa. VAD is an important health concern in severe malnutrition and has been found to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. As a step towards reducing the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and under-nutrition, there is need to identify the important determinants in a specific population so that preventive and control measures can be implemented. The aim of the study was to determine the risk factors for vitamin low serum vitamin A in under-nourished children and their controls.
Methodology: This study was a case control hospital- based descriptive study of under-nourished children aged 6-59 months and their controls.
Results: Eleven (16.7%) and three (4.5%) of the cases had low serum and deficient vitamin A levels respectively. Similarly, 11 (16.7%) of controls had low serum vitamin A levels while none of them was deficient. There was no observed differences between the proportion of cases and controls who had low serum vitamin A (P=0.492). For the cases 47 (71.2%) had persistent diarrhoea while 18 (27.3%) controls had persistent diarrhea (RR=2.6). Ten (15.2%) cases had measles while none of the controls had measles (RR=21). Prolonged fever occurred in 45 (68.2%) and 36 (54.5%) of cases and controls respectively (RR=1.25). Similarly, chronic cough occurred in 45 (68.2%) and 39 (59.1%) of cases and controls respectively (RR=1.15).
Conclusions: Persistent diarrhoea and measles infection were strong risk factors for low serum vitamin A level in under-nourished children. Similarly, prolonged fever and chronic cough were identifiable low risk factors.