DETERMINANTS OF NIGHT BLINDNESS IN BANGLADESH

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a comm unity-based health education intervention programme and to study the d eterminants of night blindness in Bangladesh. The intervention program me was implemented to reduce the morbidity of nutritional blindness (n ight blindness) in the northern part of Bangladesh (Ranjpure district) during 1986-1989. A baseline study in 1986 covered 2010 households wi th a total population of 11 600, and the evaluation study in 1989 cove red 2011 households with a total population of 10 456. Prevalence of n ight blindness was studied among children aged <9 years in these house holds. The prevalence of night blindness per 1000 children was reduced significantly during the intervention period from 50.7 in 1986 to 26. 7 in 1989. However, the post-intervention prevalence varied significan tly between areas. Multivariate analyses showed that consumption of fi sh, meat, milk or eggs, dark green leaf vegetables, yellow fruits and vitamin A capsules were significant predictors of night blindness. In addition, family income, mother's literacy, family size and area of re sidence exhibited strong and statistically significant associations wi th night blindness in the 1989 cross-sectional study. The prevalence o f night blindness was highest among 4-6 year old girls and 7-8 year ol d boys. The sex difference was, however, not statistically significant .