Low vitamin A levels in women monitored during prenatal care

• Autor(a) principal: Orrico, Géssica Santana
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Ramos, Michele de Santana Xavier, Guedes, Ellen de Moraes, Fonseca, Ana Lucia Barreto da, Rabelo, Doris Firmino, Cruz, Simone Seixas da
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Baiana de Saúde Pública (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://rbsp.sesab.ba.gov.br/index.php/rbsp/article/view/3818
• topic: Deficiência de Vitamina A; Cuidado pré-natal; Gravidez; Prevalência; Deficiencia de vitamina A; Atención prenatal; Embarazo; Prevalencia; Vitamin A deficiency; Prenatal care; Pregnancy; Prevalence

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD), defined as low concentrations of this nutrient on tissues, can lead to adverse health consequences during pregnancy such as higher risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. This study investigates the prevalence of VAD and its associated factors in pregnant women attending prenatal care in public health services at a municipality in Bahia, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 76 pregnant women undergoing prenatal care at family health units. Data were collected by means of interviews, questionnaire application, and laboratory tests. Participants were classified based on the presence of VAD, defined as serum retinol level lower than 0.20 mg/L. Frequencies were calculated for all study variables. The factors associated with VAD were investigated by estimating the prevalence ratio (PR) and its respective 95% confidence interval, with a significance level of 5%. Results showed a prevalence of maternal VAD of 13%, but without statistically significant association with the other variables studied. However, women with family income less than 2 minimum wages, number of people in the household ≥ 4, number of children > 2, start of prenatal care in the 2nd or 3rd trimester, lack of pregnancy planning, hypertension, urinary infection, lack of tetanus vaccination and smoking during pregnancy presented a higher occurrence of VAD. The findings indicate a higher occurrence of VAD in poorer living/health conditions. More robust studies are needed to elaborate social actions to prevent and promote gestational health.