Vitamin A Status amongst Malnourished Children under 5 Years Old Attending Ard El-Insan Association in Gaza City

Malnutrition in children often begins at birth and is associated with retarded physical and cognitive development. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin and an essential micronutrient needed in small amounts for the normal functioning of the visual system, maintenance of cell function for growth, epithelial integrity, red blood cell production, immunity and reproduction. This study aimed to investigate vitamin A status among malnourished children aged under 5 years attending Ard El-Insan Association. This cross sectional study consisted of 150 malnourished children less than 5 years old from both sexes. Questionnaire interview with parents was used. Anthropometric measurements (weight, length and height) were taken. Blood samples were drawn for determination of serum vitamin A, iron, zinc and Hb. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 18.0. The study population was (150) cases; (53.3%) males and (46.7%) females. The majority of surveyed children (90.7%) received immediate breastfeeding, and more than two third (71.3%) of them were breast fed exclusively. Vitamin A status among malnourished children showed (26%) of them had serum vitamin A level below (300)µg/L. Moreover, there was a significant association between each of underweight and birth weight of the studied children with serum vitamin A level. The majority of surveyed children (82.7%) were anemic and (29%) of them, their serum vitamin A level was below normal.  The present study provided base line information regarding vitamin A status among malnourished children under 5 years old in Gaza city. Interventions to improve children nutritional status must be in concern