Vitamin A deficiency disorders in 16 districts of India

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Vitamin A deficiency remains a significant public health concern, particularly in developing nations.
• Ocular manifestations of vitamin A deficiency, including Bitot's spots, corneal scars, and night blindness, can lead to irreversible vision impairment.
• Assessing the prevalence of these disorders is crucial for targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency disorders (Bitot's spot, corneal scars, night blindness) in children under six years old.
• To assess the prevalence of night blindness among pregnant women.
• To identify geographical variations in the prevalence of these conditions across multiple Indian states.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre study employing a "30 cluster survey" sampling methodology.
• Data collected from 164,512 children (< 6 years) for Bitot's spot and corneal scars, and 113,202 children (24-71 months) for night blindness.
• Prevalence of night blindness also assessed in 6,633 pregnant women across 15 districts.

Main Results:

• The highest prevalence of Bitot's spot (4.71%), corneal scar (0.5%), and night blindness (5.17%) in children was observed in Gaya district.
• Dibrugarh district reported the highest prevalence of night blindness (19.62%) among pregnant women.
• Certain districts (Mandi, Dehradun, Badaun) reported no cases of Bitot's spot in children, and several districts showed no night blindness in pregnant women.

Conclusions:

• Significant regional variations exist in the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency disorders among children and pregnant women in India.
• The findings underscore the need for localized strategies to combat vitamin A deficiency and its ocular consequences.
• Continued surveillance and targeted interventions are essential to reduce the burden of these preventable conditions.