VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY IN NIGERIAN CHILDREN

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a global problem of public health significance in many under-privileged communities of the world. No 
national data is available on the vitamin A status in Nigeria. A population-based, cross-sectional study, using a two-staged stratified 
cluster sampling method was conducted. The national prevalence of Xerophthalmia was 1.1% whilst the national prevalence of VAD 
using serum retinol < 20µg/dl (or 0.7 µmol/l) as cut-off was 28.1%; both values are indicative of a problem of public health 
significance. This paper evaluates the implications of vitamin A deficiency in Nigeria. There is an urgent need for the relevant 
authorities to pursue active and realistic policies in order to prevent further unnecessary blindness, morbidity and mortality in 
Nigerian children.