• Ruth B Grubesic and B J Selwyn.
• Texas Woman's University College of Nursing, Houston Center. rgrubesic@twu.edu
• J Nurs Scholarsh. 2003 Jan 1;35(1):15-20.

PurposeTo compare vitamin A supplementation status of children age 6-60 months to the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency disease, malnutrition, diarrhea, and acute respiratory infection.MethodsThe nutritional status of children was estimated using mid-upper-arm circumference measurements. A trained ophthalmology assistant assessed for clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency disease. A trained female community health worker interviewed mothers about child health status using a standardized questionnaire.ResultsCompared to children who did not receive supplements, children who received vitamin A supplements regularly had less malnutrition, diarrhea, and acute respiratory infection, regardless of the number of children per household, age, sex, or father's occupation.ConclusionsSupplementation with vitamin A is necessary twice a year. Children who received a vitamin A capsule only one time were not as protected as were those children who received vitamin A as a regular twice yearly scheduled dose.

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