James M. Tielsch|Lakshmi Rahmathullah|Joanne Katz|Thulasiraj Ravilla|Christian Coles|S Sheeladevi|Karthik Prakash
Maternal Night Blindness during Pregnancy Is Associated with Low Birthweight, Morbidity, and Poor Growth in South India
Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University|Aravind Eye Hospital|Johns Hopkins University|Aravind Eye Hospital|Aravind Eye Hospital
maternal night blindness common pregnancy many developing countries previous studies demonstrated important consequences maternal night blindness pregnancy health mother newborn infant compared birthweight 6mo infant mortality morbidity growth among infants women report history night blindness communitybased randomized trial newborn vitamin supplementation south india birthweight measured within 72 h delivery infants followed 6 mo age mortality morbidity assessed household visits every 2 wk anthropometry assessed 6 mo age total 12829 liveborn infants included 680 infants mothers night blindness index pregnancy maternal night blindness associated increased risk low birthweight dosedependent fashion based birthweight cutoffs 2500 g adjusted relative risk rr 113 95 ci 101 126 2000 g adjusted rr 170 95 ci 127 226 1500 g adjusted rr 338 95 ci 118 633 increased risk diarrhea adjusted rr 116 95 ci 103 130 dysentery adjusted rr 125 95 ci 103 153 acute respiratory illness adjusted rr 132 95 ci 121 144 poor growth 6 mo underweight adjusted rr 114 95 ci 102 126 stunting adjusted rr 119 95 ci 105 134 maternal night blindness associated 6mo infant mortality wasting 6 mo study demonstrates important consequences infant maternal vitamin deficiency pregnancy