Control of Vitamin A Deficiency in Vietnam: Achievements and Future Orientation

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency is one of the major nutritional deficiencies in Vietnam. The first survey, conducted in 1985-1988 showed that the prevalence of severe xerophthalmia was seven times higher than the cutoff point established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to define vitamin A deficiency as a public health problem. The result of this survey strongly convinced the government to launch a program to control vitamin A deficiency, which started in 1988. The program strategies included nutrition education, universal distribution of high-dose vitamin A capsules to children aged 6 to 36 months in combination with national immunization days, and promotion of production and consumption of vitamin A-rich foods at the family level. The implementation network was set up based on the existing preventive health structure at all administrative levels. Organizations such as the women's union and other social sectors have participated actively in the program. Surveys conducted in 1994 and 1998 showed that the prevalence of clinical xerophthalmia was significantly lower than that identified in the baseline survey and below the WHO criteria for a public health problem. The achievements of our program have demonstrated that an effective vitamin A supplementation program can be implemented successfully by the preventive health network with active community participation. In the coming years, it will be important for our program to develop approaches other than vitamin A supplementation in order to maintain the past achievements.

Relationship of serum carotenoids and retinol with anaemia among pre-school children in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam

“…Vitamin A capsule distribution programmes are the main strategy for reducing vitamin A deficiency in many developing countries ( 20 ) . Annually Vietnamese children receive high-dose vitamin A capsules through two distribution campaigns throughout the effective network of existing preventive health infrastructure at all administrative levels, with a coverage rate of 70–90 % at national level ( 21 ) . Therefore, it appears that the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency decreased from 12 % in the year 2000 ( 22 ) to about 8 % in the present study, but this finding is not absolutely conclusive since the same study populations were not sampled in the two different years.…”

Intakes of retinol and carotenoids and its determining factors in the Red River Delta population of northern Vietnam

“…This finding can be explained because the main protein intake among the study population comes from plant food sources and the low retinol intake is due to the low intake of animal food products. Thus, the current policy towards distribution of high-dose vitamin A capsules for children from 6 to 36 months and for lactating mothers is still an important and needed intervention to prevent the disadvantage in the population from vitamin A deficiency (Khan et al, 2002).…”

“…Vitamin A deficiency increases severity of infection, anemia, poor growth and mortality (Sommer and West, 1996). Until the year 1995, vitamin A deficiency was regarded as a serious public health problem also in Vietnam, but several years of countrywide vitamin A supplementation programs have improved the situation markedly (Khan et al, 2002). However, sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency, which is associated with an increased risk of severe illnesses or even death from diarrhea and respiratory infections, still exists as a public health concern in Vietnam (Khan and Ninh, 2003).…”

Persistent Malnutrition in Ethnic Minority Communities of Vietnam: Issues and Options for Policy and Interventions

“…Since 1995, Vietnam has been recognized as xerophthalmia-free, but subclinical vitamin A deficiency still exists. The vitamin A supplementation program Vietnam has run since 1988 and was expanded to national coverage in 1993 (Khan et al 2002). High-dose vitamin A supplementation is provided twice a year nationwide for children ages 6-36 months.…”