Prevalência da hipovitaminose A em pré-escolares no Estado de Sergipe, 1998 Prevalence of hypovitaminosis A among preschool children from northeastern Brazil, 1998

Abstract

OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência da deficiência de vitamina A em uma amostra de base populacional de crianças. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo de corte transversal realizado de maio a junho de 1998, no Estado de Sergipe, envolvendo 607 crianças de seis a 60 meses de idade. As informações foram obtidas por meio de entrevistas domiciliares com os responsáveis pelas crianças. A coleta de sangue foi realizada por venipuntura e a dosagem do retinol sérico pelo método da cromatografia líquida de alta resolução. Para a análise simultânea das variáveis do estudo, aceitou-se o valor de pOBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in a population-based sample. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the State of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil, in May and June, 1998. It involved 607 children aged 6 to 60 months. The information was obtained by means of interviews with the persons responsible for these children, in their homes. Blood samples were collected via venous puncture and serum retinol assays were carried out by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In simultaneous analyses of the study variables, p<0.05 was accepted for testing statistically significant associations. RESULTS: A mean serum retinol value of 0.87 µmol/l (±0.38) was found among the children investigated. The prevalence of levels considered low (0.35 to 0.69 µmol/l) was 22.5% and the prevalence of levels considered deficient (<0.35 µmol/l) was 9.6%. Inadequate serum retinol levels were therefore seen in 32.1% of the children. The serum retinol level showed an association with per capita family income and the weight/age indicator. No statistically significant association was found for serum retinol level in relation to the child's age and sex, or the mother's variables. CONCLUSION: Vitamin A deficiency among preschool children is an important public health problem. Hypovitaminosis A is mainly related to low per capita family income and low infant weight.

Keywords

• Deficiência de vitamina A
• Deficiência de vitamina A
• Vitamina A
• Prevalência
• Vitamin A deficiency
• Vitamin A deficiency
• Vitamin A
• Prevalence