Coexistence of anemia and vitamin A deficiency in women of childbearing age in the Northeast region of Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Hazin COSTA, Manuela
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Impieri de SOUZA, Ariani, BRAGA, Maria Cynthia, BATISTA FILHO, Malaquias
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista de Nutrição
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br/nutricao/article/view/8515
• topic: Anemia; Vitamin A deficiency; Women; Anemia; Deficiência de vitamina A; Mulheres

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the association between anemia and vitamin A deficiency in women of childbearing age in Pernambuco, a state in the Brazilian Northeast. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted making a secondary database analysis of “The Third State Survey on Health and Nutrition” done from May to September 2006. Data were collected from 761 women of childbearing age (10-49 years). ResultsThe simultaneous occurrence of the two deficiencies was found in only seven women (0.9%). The prevalence of anemia was of 15.1%, and of vitamin A deficiency, 8.2%. There was no association between the two conditions (p=0.380), although a positive correlation was found between retinol levels and hemoglobin concentration (r=0.13). ConclusionAnemia and vitamin A deficiency did not coexist. Anemia was considered a mild public health problem, while vitamin A deficiency was not considered an epidemiological problem.