[Prevalence of hypovitaminosis A among preschool children from northeastern Brazil, 1998].

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in a population-based sample. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the State of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil, in May and June, 1998. It involved 607 children aged 6 to 60 months. The information was obtained by means of interviews with the persons responsible for these children, in their homes. Blood samples were collected via venous puncture and serum retinol assays were carried out by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In simultaneous analyses of the study variables, p<0.05 was accepted for testing statistically significant associations. RESULTS A mean serum retinol value of 0.87 micromol/l (+/- 0.38) was found among the children investigated. The prevalence of levels considered low (0.35 to 0.69 micromol/l) was 22.5% and the prevalence of levels considered deficient (<0.35 micromol/l) was 9.6%. Inadequate serum retinol levels were therefore seen in 32.1% of the children. The serum retinol level showed an association with per capita family income and the weight/age indicator. No statistically significant association was found for serum retinol level in relation to the child's age and sex, or the mother's variables. CONCLUSION Vitamin A deficiency among preschool children is an important public health problem. Hypovitaminosis A is mainly related to low per capita family income and low infant weight.