Parul Christian
Night blindness of pregnancy in rural Nepal--nutritional and health risks
Johns Hopkins University|Nepal Red Cross Society
night blindness xn common clinical symptom vitamin deficiency among children developing countries yet little known aetiology associated risks maternal xn emerging evidence south east asia suggests may frequent previously thought women reproductive age especially pregnancy populationbased casecontrol study conducted reveal epidemiology xn among pregnant nepali women night blind cases identified history weekly community surveillance system controls randomly selected pool pregnant women without xn pairmatched gestational age cases homebased assessment done within week selection 7day food frequency morbidity histories collected anthropometry measured capillary blood drawn serum retinol carotene haemoglobin hb estimation cases controls differ age number previous pregnancies however cases likely lower castes illiterate live poorer quality homes land mean serum retinol level cases 030 moll lower controls p 0001 indicating low vitamin status night blind pregnant women mean hb level significantly lower 07 gdl p 0004 risk severe anaemia hb 70 gdl higher among cases controls odds ratio 30 95 ci 125723 cases undernourished controls reflected lower mean weight 26 kg body mass index 08 arm circumference 09 cm triceps skinfold 08 mm night blindness associated less frequent consumption preformed vitamin milk products fish meat provitamin dark green leafy vegetables mangoes foods especially summer night blind women 23 times likely report symptoms urinaryreproductive tract infections lower abdominal pain painful burning urination vaginal discharge symptoms diarrhoeadysentery preeclampsia eclampsia nausea vomiting poor appetite throughout pregnancy controls women experience xn pregnancy low vitamin status although several risk factors appear cluster among women well night blind women also likely anaemic ill acutely undernourished consuming nutritionally poorer diet pregnancy nonnight blind pregnant women simple history xn identify women high risk pregnancy may require special nutritional support antenatal care counselling