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The Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
icddr,b
ISSN: 1606-0997 EISSN: 1606-0997
Vol. 22, No. 4, 2004, pp. 348-356
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Bioline Code: hn04044
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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The Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, Vol. 22, No. 4, 2004, pp. 348-356
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Gestational Nightblindness among Women Attending a Public Maternity Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Saunders, Cláudia; do Carmo Leal, Maria; Gomes, Mirian Martins; Campos, Luciana Ferreira; dos Santos Silva, Bianca Amaral; Thiapó de Lima, Ana Paula Pereira & Ramalho, Rejane Andréa
Abstract
This study evaluated the prevalence of gestational nightblindness among postpartum women seen at
the University Maternal Hospital of the Federal University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the association
of this symptom with a biochemical indicator (serum retinol levels) and sociodemographic, anthropometric
and antenatal care variables. In total, 262 postpartum women, who did not receive vitamin A
supplementation during pregnancy, were interviewed. Gestational nightblindness was diagnosed through
the standardized interview as proposed by WHO. Serum retinol levels were evaluated by spectrophotometry.
Gestational nightblindness relating to low levels of serum retinol (<1.05 μmol/L, p=0.000) was
diagnosed in 17.9% of subjects interviewed. Less than five antenatal care appointments (odds ratio
[OR]=2.179; confidence interval [CI] 95%=1.078-4.402) and a history of one or more miscarriage(s)
(OR=2.306; CI 95%=1.185-4.491) were predictors for gestational nightblindness. These findings
justify the need for nutritional counselling, aimed at improving the vitamin A nutritional status,
especially among pregnant women with a history of previous miscarriages and poor antenatal care.
Keywords
Nightblindness; Pregnancy; Prenatal care; Abortion; Vitamin A deficiency; Vitamin A; Brazil
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