Night blindness, diet and health in Nepalese children: An ethno-epidemiological investigation of local beliefs

This paper describes concepts of diet and health in Nepal related to night blindness in children. We compared beliefs of mothers with xerophthalmic ch ildren with those of mothers with children without xerophthalmia and those of selected community members participating in ethnographic interviews. Kno wledge of night blindness terms, symptoms and local availability of vitamin A capsules were well understood. Night blindness was classified as a "hot" illness, exacerbated by "heat" inducing environments, but balanced by cold conditions or foods. The link between diet and night blindness, however, w as not evident from ethnographic or household interviews. Vitamin A-rich fo ods were ascribed beneficial and harmful qualities during the ethnographic interviews. However, surveyed mothers tended not to report harmful food qua lities. Food beliefs of mothers with xerophthalmic children did not differ significantly from those with non-xerophthalmic children, although the form er were slightly less likely to recommend giving vitamin A-rich foods for c hildhood night blindness.