PREVALENCE OF VIT A DEFICIENCY IN RURAL POPULATION OF UTTAR PRADESH

BACKGROUND Vit A deficiency is a major cause of preventable blindness. Such deficiency in childhood may lead to corneal scarring and loss of transparency of cornea, which is very difficult to manage in India. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency in peripheral part of Lucknow and Barabanki, (Uttar Pradesh). MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was done in Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences (Uttar Pradesh), in which children aged 0-12 years were undertaken. Study population was selected by examining students at schools by Bal Suraksha Guarantee Yojna team and the OPD population of paediatrics and obstetrics and gynaecology, 1598 children and students participated in the study. Students were from 1(st) to 7(th) class, age was 0-12 years. RESULTS Prevalence of xerophthalmia was 4.29% in all the age group of 0-12 years. Prevalence of Bitot's spot was 1.8% in children under six years of age and 4.93% in children above six years. The prevalence of xerophthalmia was significantly more in children over 6 years of age. Prevalence of anaemia was 18.4% in the study. High prevalence of xerophthalmia was observed in children suffering from anaemia, which conveys more of disease prevalence in weak and malnourished children. CONCLUSION With the effort of the Government Agencies and the NGOs, the manifestation of xerophthalmia and prevalence of Bitot's spot in children under six years of age in the present study shows a declining manifestations of even the first sign of vit A deficiency, although it is still a public health problem. The higher prevalence in children above six years of age shows that apart from strengthening of vitamin A prophylaxis programs, health education is required so as to maintain and strengthen our goal.