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VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY AMONG KENYAN CHILDREN AS DETECTED BY CONJUCTIVAL IMPRESSION CYTOLOGY
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the prevalence of Xerophthalmia among Kenyan children aged
(four to seven) years in high risk using Conjuctival Impression Cytology and transfer.
Design: A cross sectional community based study.
Setting: Mathare slum in Nairobi and Tiva/Ithiani area of Kitui.
Subjects: Children aged four to seven years residing in the above areas were assessed
for both clinical and cytological features of vitamin A deficiency.
Results: Of the 342 children included in this study, 316 (92.0%) were normal, five (1.5%)
had XN, 19 (5.9% had XIA and two (0.6%) had XIB. No signs of corneal Xerophthalmia
were seen in this study. Conjuctival impression cytology and transfer (CICT) was used
to asses for squamous metaplastic changes associated with Vitamin A deficiency (VAD).
Seventy five (23.1%) of the children were normal by CICT while 249 (76.9%) were
abnormal. In comparing the two areas of study, only 13.2% of the children in Mathare
had normal CICT compared to 50% in Kitui. For each of the age groups studied there
was significant difference between the two areas with children from Mathare being more
deficient than those from Kitui.
Conclusion: VAD is a significant health problem in the high risk areas assessed by
CICT in this study.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of Xerophthalmia among Kenyan children aged
(four to seven) years in high risk using Conjuctival Impression Cytology and transfer.
Design: A cross sectional community based study.
Setting: Mathare slum in Nairobi and Tiva/Ithiani area of Kitui.
Subjects: Children aged four to seven years residing in the above areas were assessed
for both clinical and cytological features of vitamin A deficiency.
Results: Of the 342 children included in this study, 316 (92.0%) were normal, five (1.5%)
had XN, 19 (5.9% had XIA and two (0.6%) had XIB. No signs of corneal Xerophthalmia
were seen in this study. Conjuctival impression cytology and transfer (CICT) was used
to asses for squamous metaplastic changes associated with Vitamin A deficiency (VAD).
Seventy five (23.1%) of the children were normal by CICT while 249 (76.9%) were
abnormal. In comparing the two areas of study, only 13.2% of the children in Mathare
had normal CICT compared to 50% in Kitui. For each of the age groups studied there
was significant difference between the two areas with children from Mathare being more
deficient than those from Kitui.
Conclusion: VAD is a significant health problem in the high risk areas assessed by
CICT in this study.
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