Objective To determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in children a
ged 6-9 years in northern Ethiopia.
Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out and the data were analysed
for 824 (61.5%) of 1339 eligible children for whom there was complete infor
mation on biochemical vitamin A status, dietary vitamin A intake, ocular ex
amination for xerophthalmia, and anthropometiy.
Findings The prevalence of xerophthalmia was 5.8%; serum retinol levels wer
e below 0.35 mu mol/l and between 0.35 and 0.70 mu mol/l in 8.4% and 51.1%
of the children respectively. The liver vitamin A reserve (modified relativ
e dose response ratio greater than or equal to 0.06) was low in 41.0% of th
e children.
Conclusion The high prevalence of severe vitamin A deficiency in children a
ged 6-9 years indicates the need to reevaluate the practice of targeting vi
tamin A supplementation programmes on children under 6 years of age in area
s where vitamin A deficiency is endemic.