Comparison Between Vitamin A Supplementation Nutritional Education in Preschool Children by junctival Impression Cytology (CIC) Method

Somsanguan Ausayakhun, M.D., M.H.SC*
Apinya Ruxruji, M.D.*
Rutchada Siriwanasan, M.D.*
Pokpong Chantarasomboon, M.D.*
Janejitr Chuvutthayakorn, M.D.*
Somluk Nimsakul, M.C.N.**
* Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai, Thailand.
** Research Institute for Health Science, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai, Thailand.

ABSTRACT Vitamin A deficiency continues to be a public health problem in rural children 0 northern Thailand especially in the hilltribe group. We therefore surveyed 400 children in 12 Karet villages of Lumphoon Province in April 1994 and found that they had abnormal CIC of 74.2%. T( find the appropriate intervention program, we compared between the supplementation of vitamin A (200,000 I.U.) and the nutritional education program. Our results demonstrated that, in the seconc survey in April 1995, the vitamin A supplementation group in 8 villages which included 23~ children had abnormal CIC of 29.8%, while the nutritional education group in 4 villages of 102 children had 26.5%, which is not statistically significant (p = 0.54). We concluded that the nutri tional education is one of the proper method in the prevention of the vitamin A deficiency in thesc children besides the supplementation of vitamin A capsule by the health personnels.Key word : Vitamin A deficiency, dietary assessment, night blindness, conjunctival impressioi~ cytology, serum retinol, preschool children.

Thai J Ophthalmol 1998 ; January-June 12(1): 29-36.