English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Background : Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) affects an estimated 6 million pre-school children in Nigeria and 20 million in Africa. When associated with severe malnutrition, it significantly increases morbidity and mortality. Objectives : To determine serum vitamin A levels in children with Protein Energy Malnutrition and age and sex prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among children with Protein Energy Malnutrition and controls at the institute of Child Health ABUTH Zaria. Method : This was a case-control hospital-based descriptive study carried out at the Institute of Child Health (ICH) Banzazzau, Zaria. Systematic sampling method was adopted to select undernourished children aged 6-59 months for the study. Serum vitamin A level was analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The frequency of values below a cut off, usually taken as 0.70 μmol/L (20 μg/ dl ) for low and 0.35 μmol/L (10 μg/dl) for deficiency. Data was analysed using the Statistical Programme for Social Sciences version 15.4. Results : In this study, 132 children (66 cases and 66 controls) aged 6-59 months were studied. Among the cases, all were wasted, out of which 13 (19.7%), 9 (13.6%) and 44 (66.7%) had mild, moderate and severe wasting. Similarly, all the cases were stunted with the severity ranging from mild, 11 (16.7%), moderate, 19 (28.8%) and severe, 36 (54.5%). All the controls were nutritionally normal. Twenty six (39.4%) and 30 (45.5%) were males while 40 (60.6%), 36(54.2%) were females (M:F= 1:1.5 and 1:1.2) among cases and controls respectively. Low serum vitamin A levels among the cases was 16.7%. VAD was seen only in those with severe wasting (5%). Malnourished females aged 13-24 months and males aged 49-59 months for the controls were more at risk of low vitamin A levels. Children who had measles, persistent diarrhoea, low maternal educational levels and low social class were at a higher risk of having low serum vitamin A levels Conclusion : This study has been able to establish low vitamin A levels among both undernourished and controls in Zaria. This is of public health significance.

Serum vitamin A levels among malnourished children aged 6 - 59 months in Zaria