The effects of vitamin A supplementation on the morbidity of children born to HIV-infected women

A. Coutsoudis, R.A. Bobat, H.M. Coovadia, L. Kuhn, Wei-Che Tsai and Z.A. Stein

American Journal of Public Health, 1995, vol. 85, issue 8, 1076-1081

Abstract: Objective. The effects of vitamin A supplementation on morbidity of children born to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women were evaluated in a population where vitamin A deficiency is not endemic. Methods. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of vitamin A supplementation was carried out in 118 offspring of HIV-infected women in Durban, South Africa. Those assigned to receive a supplement were given 50 000 IU of vitamin A at 1 and 3 months of age; 100 000 IU at 6 and 9 months; and 200 000 IU at 12 and 15 months. Morbidity in the past month was then recalled at each follow-up visit. Analysis was based on 806 child-months. Results. Among all children, the supplemented group had lower overall morbidity than the placebo group (OR = 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.48, 0.99). Among the 85 children of known HIV status (2.8 infected, 57 uninfected), morbidity associated with diarrhea was significantly reduced in the supplemented infected children (OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.27, 0.99), whereas no effect of supplementation on diarrheal morbidity was noted among the uninfected children. Conclusion. In a population not generally vitamin A deficient, vitamin A supplementation for children of HIV-infected women appeared to be beneficial, reducing morbidity. The benefit was observed particularly for diarrhea among HIV-infected children.

Date: 1995
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1995:85:8:1076-1081_8

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().