![](/imgs/covers/hn_cover.jpg)
|
The Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
icddr,b
ISSN: 1606-0997 EISSN: 1606-0997
Vol. 31, No. 1, 2013, pp. 28-36
|
Bioline Code: hn13004
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
|
|
The Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2013, pp. 28-36
en |
Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency in Pregnant and Lactating Women in the Republic of Congo
Samba, Claude; Tchibindat, Félicité; Gourmel, Bernard; Houzé, Patrick & Malvy, Denis
Abstract
Vitamin A status in a sample of pregnant and lactating women living in several representative regions of
Congo was assessed and compared between August and September 2004. This survey was conducted using
a randomized two-stage cluster-sampling method with stratification on 90 clusters, each consisting of
at least 15 women. Vitamin A status was determined in a total of 1,054 individuals, using the impression
cytology with transfer (ICT) test, the modified relative dose response test (MRDR test) on dried blood spots
(DBS), and clinical examination to detect signs of xerophthalmia. The clinical criterion defining vitamin
A deficiency was the presence of active xerophthalmia (Bitot's spots [X1B]), active corneal disease), and/
or night blindness (XN stage). The prevalence of clinical signs of stage XN and X1B xerophthalmia in the
Republic of Congo was found to be 16% and 19% respectively. The prevalence of clinical signs (X1B) was
greater in the rural north than in urban areas, with a gradient running from urban (5%) to rural area (33%);
27% of all the ICT tests showed that the subjects were suffering from vitamin A deficiency. The deficiency
rates were significantly higher (p<0.001) in urban surroundings (Brazzaville) than in the rural northern
regions. The biochemical MRDR test showed the presence of vitamin A deficiency (≥0.06) in 26% of the
mothers in Brazzaville compared to 6% in the town of Kouilou; 44% of the women had retinol levels of
<10 µg/dL in the rural north whereas these percentages were significantly lower in the urban areas surveyed
(chi-square=62.30, p<0.001). A significant correlation was found to exist (p<0.001) between the ICT test
and the MRDR test on DBS. In the population as a whole, 30% of the mothers suffering from malarial attack
had abnormally low MRDR levels (≥0.06) compared to no malaria. The results of the present study
confirm that vitamin A deficiency is a serious public-health issue in pregnant and lactating mothers in the
Republic of Congo.
Keywords
Dried blood spots; Lactating women; Pregnant women; Vitamin A deficiency; Congo
|
|
© Copyright 2012 - The Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition Alternative site location: http://www.jhpn.net
|
|