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Factors associated with low serum retinol levels in children aged 6–24 months in a rural South African community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Mieke Faber  and
AJ Spinnler Benadé
Mieke Faber*
Affiliation:
National Research Programme for Nutritional Intervention, Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
AJ Spinnler Benadé
Affiliation:
National Research Programme for Nutritional Intervention, Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
*
*Corresponding author: Email [email protected]
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Abstract

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Objective

To identify risk factors for variation in serum retinol levels in children younger than 2 years of age in a rural South African community.

Design

Children (n=97), 6–24 months of age, were divided into two groups according to their serum retinol levels, using 20 μg dl−1 as the cut-off point. The chi-square test, Fischer exact two-tailed test and analysis of variance were used to identify related variables which were significantly different between the two groups. To evaluate simultaneously the association between several potential risk factors and low serum retinol levels, a multiple regression model for categorical data was developed which included potential risk factors that were statistically significant in the bivariate analysis as the independent variables, and either low or normal vitamin A status as the dependent variable.

Results

There was an association between serum retinol levels and: (i) the place of birth (hospital vs. home deliveries); (ii) the attitude of the care-giver towards family life; and (iii) the health status of the child. Although not included in the multiple variable model because of small numbers, all children who had a previous episode of measles, all underweight children, and all children of widowed care-givers were in the low serum retinol group.

Conclusions

The care-giver's attitude towards family life was positively associated with the child's vitamin A status, while home deliveries were associated with a low vitamin A status.

Keywords

RuralUnder 2sVitamin ARisk factors
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 3 , Issue 4 , December 2000 , pp. 395 - 402
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2000

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