Nutritional blindness in Tigrai Region, northern Ethiopia

Abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted in October, 1993 to determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in Agebe Woreda in Tigrai `Kellel' (Region) of Ethiopia. A total of 678 children aged between 6 months and 6 years were examined for signs of xerophthalmia. In 7.8% of the children a history of night blindness (XN) was reported. Bitot's spots were seen in 3.4% of the children with a higher prevalence rate in males than in females (P<0.01). Anthropometric measurements were made on 662 of the children. There was a higher prevalence of stunting (42.6%) than wasting (8.0%) with an additional 11.3% of the children being both stunted and wasted. No association was observed between morbidity and occurrence of sign of xerophthalmia. The woreda is a mono-crop area and has been affected by recurrent drought. On the basis of the cut-off points set by WHO and the International Vitamin A Consultative Group, the problem of vitamin A deficiency in the Woreda is of public health significance. Urgent and continued intervention programmes (mainly supplementation with mega-dose of vitamin A and food diversification through intensive health education as well as horticultural development) are highly recommended. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1997;11(2):157-162