SUBCLINICAL VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY AND THE MORBIDITY PATTERN OF CHILDREN 1-5 YEARS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY OF JAMMU Suri Shivalia, Kumar Dineshb, Das Ranjanc, Rasania SKd a Senior Resident, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals; b Head of Department, Government Medical College & Associated Hospitals, Jammu & Kashmir; c Professor, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals; d Director Professor and Head, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals Abstract Observations Results A large proportion of preschool children (62%) continue to suffer from subclinical Vitamin A Deficiency (Sc VAD). This cross-sectional study was conducted in Block R.S.Pura (J&K) among children aged 1-5 years. VAD was observed in 73% of villages. 28.4% children were suffering from some degree of under-nutrition. In almost all villages found to be at risk of VAD, rates of morbidities (diarrhoea, ARI, measles and malnutrition) were quite high. I. Distribution of surveyed population Percentage Out of 750 children surveyed, 58.4% were boys and rest were girls Highest percentage of children were in the age groups of 1-2 years (33.5%) and 2-3 years (32.1%) 84.5% of children belonged to the Middle Socio-economic Status as per Modified Uday Pareek Scale Nutritional status (mid- upper arm circumference)- one-fourth of them were suffering from under-nutrition The whole block of R.S.Pura was considered to have sub-clinical VAD since 11 out of the 15 villages studied (73.3%) were found to be deficient in their consumption of Vitamin A rich foods 21.5% children had a history of diarrhoea, 39.1% had a history of ARI and 1.2% had history of measles 100% = 750 49-60 mo 12-24 mo Girls 37-48 mo Introduction Boys Vitamin-A is an essential nutrient needed for normal functioning of visual system, growth, epithelial integrity, etc. India: improvement in Vitamin A status of preschool children, 62% still suffer from subclinical VAD, causing severe public health problem Sub Clinical VAD causes increased susceptibility to infections, morbidity and mortality from respiratory and intestinal infections 25-36 mo II. Episodes of diarrhea, measles, and ARI in surveyed population Number of children Discussion HKI is a simple, inexpensive, user-friendly screening tool for sub-clinical VAD Subclinical VAD by HKI food frequency questionnaire & serum retinol levels agree well The high incidence of diarrhoea, ARI & measles in under-fives could have worked in tandem to produce VAD In almost all villages which were found to be at risk of VAD, the rates of the morbidities (diarrhoea, ARI, measles and malnutrition) were quite high. Limitation of study : Estimation of serum retinol could not be done Total ARI Objectives Diarrhea To assess subclinical VAD and study morbidity pattern of children aged 1-5 years in a rural area of Jammu Measles Villages Methodology III. Results of HKI methodology - 11 of 15 (73%) villages had ScVAD Vitamin-A deficiency if a ≤ 4 or d ≤ 6 The cross-sectional study was conducted in Block R.S.Pura as per standard methodology (Vitamin A Technical Assistance Program) 15 villages were selected and 50 children aged 1-5 years were included from each village Mothers of children (750) were interviewed regarding frequency of consumption of 28 food items in Helen Keller International Food Frequency Questionnaire History of diarrhoea, cough, fever and measles was recorded To assess nutritional status of child, mid upper arm circumference was measured Animal source Plant source VAD Villages Conclusion Animal source cut-off (d) Long-term measures e.g. IEC on appropriate diets to be given equal priority with Vitamin A supplementation HKI Food Frequency Questionnaire may be promoted as field technique for assessing subclinical VAD. Plant source cut-off (a) Villages Corresponding author: e-mail:- shivalisuridr@yahoo.co.in 1