Abstract

SANTOS, Emanuelle Natalee dos; VELARDE, Luis Guillermo Coca  and  FERREIRA, Vanessa Alves. Association between Vitamin A deficiency and socioeconomic, nutritional and obstetric variables. Ciênc. saúde coletiva [online]. 2010, vol.15, suppl.1, pp. 1021-1030. ISSN 1413-8123.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232010000700008.

This study verified the night blindness prevalence, the first manifestation of this deficiency, and its association with socioeconomic, nutritionals and obstetric variables of 92 pregnant who were assisted on a health municipal center in Diamantina, Vale do Jequitinhonha. Data was collected through a model interview recommended by WHO (1996) to diagnose night blindness. The statistic analysis used Fisher exact test and Wilcoxon test. The results showed a higher prevalence of night blindness at Diamantina districts and neighbor cities (13.04%). No significant association was found between night blindness and socioeconomic and obstetric variables (p>0.05). It was observed a low vitamin A levels by pregnant with night blindness (4.4). This found shows the necessity of more investigations on vitamin A deficiency in order to help prevent, diagnose and combat this issue.

Keywords : Vitamin A deficiency; Pregnant; Night blindness; Nutrition.