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Vitamin A Supplementation and Health Outcomes for Children in Nepal
Author(s) -
Grubesic Ruth B.,
Selwyn B.J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of nursing scholarship
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1547-5069
pISSN - 1527-6546
DOI - 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2003.00015.x
Subject(s) - medicine , malnutrition , vitamin a deficiency , diarrhea , vitamin , pediatrics , respiratory infection , disease , retinol , respiratory system
Purpose: To compare vitamin A supplementation status of children age 6–60 months to the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency disease, malnutrition, diarrhea, and acute respiratory infection. Methods: The nutritional status of children was estimated using mid‐upper‐arm circumference measurements. A trained ophthalmology assistant assessed for clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency disease. A trained female community health worker interviewed mothers about child health status using a standardized questionnaire. Results: Compared to children who did not receive supplements, children who received vitamin A supplements regularly had less malnutrition, diarrhea, and acute respiratory infection, regardless of the number of children per household, age, sex, or father's occupation. Conclusions: Supplementation with vitamin A is necessary twice a year. Children who received a vitamin A capsule only one time were not as protected as were those children who received vitamin A as a regular twice yearly scheduled dose.