Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences

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Night Blindness is a Serious Public Health Problem of Pregnant Women’s in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Received: 12 December 2014    Accepted: 25 December 2014    Published: 10 February 2015
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Abstract

Introduction: Night blindness is significant public health problem among pregnant women in Ethiopia and estimated to be more severe in rural areas. However; there is insufficient information about the magnitude of night blindness among pregnant women’s of rural Ethiopia. The same is true in the study region. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of night blindness among pregnant Women’s in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross sectional study design was employed in February 2013 among selected 323 pregnant women’s. Two stage cluster sampling was employed; in the first stage seven kebeles were selected randomly, in the second stage study subjects were selected with considering probability proportional to population size (PPS). A structured and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection based on the objective of the study. The data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 16. Bivariate & multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with night blindness at confidence limits of 95% and P-value less than 5% significant. Frequencies, proportion, summary statistics were used for presenting the result of the study. Results: out of 323 pregnant women 56 (17%) were suffered from night blindness. Pregnant women’s age beyond 35 years were 4.9 times more likely to be night blinded than those with age less than 25 years [AOR=4.9; 95% CI: (1.6-14.9)]. Pregnant women’s income less than 500 Ethiopian birr per month were 2 times more likely to be night blinded than those who can earn more than that [AOR=2.0; 95% CI:(1.02-3.9)]. Pregnant women’s didn’t have own cattle were 5.6 times more likely to be night blinded than those who have cattle [AOR=5.6; 95% CI: (2.9, 11.0)]. Pregnant women’s with no hand washing practice after toilet were 3 times more likely to be night blinded than having hand washing practice after toilet [AOR=3.0; 95% CI:(1.3 -7.1)]. Conclusion: Night blindness is a serious public health problem of pregnant women’s. Pregnant Women’s age greater than 35 years, not having cattle, no hand washing practice after toilet and income less than 500 Ethiopian birr per month, were significantly affected by night blindness.

DOI 10.11648/j.jfns.20150301.13
Published in Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 1, January 2015)
Page(s) 17-23
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Pregnant Women’s Night Blindness, Associated Factors, Tahtay Koraro District

References
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[7] Haider Jemal, Demisse Tessma, G/Sillasie H, Fufa H, I Biratu. Vitamin A deficiency status in Tigray region, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Devevelopment1999; 13:87-91.
[8] World Health Organization. data base on prevalence of previous night blindness in Tigray region conducted in 2000
[9] Christian P, West KJ, Khatry S, Pradhan E, LeClerq S, Katz J, et al. Night blindness during pregnancy and subsequent mortality among women in Nepal: effects of vitamin A and beta carotene supplementation. Am J Epidemiology2000; 152:542-7.
[10] World Health Organization. Indicators for Assessing Vitamin A Deficiency and Their Application in Monitoring and Evaluating Intervention Programmes. Micronutrient: WHO; 1996.
[11] World Health Organization. Guideline: vitamin A. supplementation in pregnant women. WHO2011.
[12] Christian P. Recommendations for Indicators: Night Blindness during Pregnancy; A Simple Tool to Assess Vitamin A Deficiency in a Population. Journal Nutrition 2002; 132:2884-8.
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[17] Katz J, Khatry S, West KJ, Humphrey J, LeClerq S, Pradhan E, et al. Night blindness is prevalent during pregnancy and lactation in rural Terai Nepal. Jornal Nutrition. 1995; 125: 2122-7.
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[21] Mirmiran, P., Azadbakht, L., Esmaillzadeh, A. & Azizi, F. 2004. Dietary diversity score in adolescents- a good indicator of the nutritional adequacy of diets: Tehran lipid and glucose study. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 13(1): 56-60.
[22] Foote, J., Murphy, S., Wilkens, L., Basiotis, P. & Carlson, A. 2004. Dietary variety increases the probability of nutrient adequacy among adults. Journal of Nutrition 134: 1779-1785.
[23] Arimond, M., Torheim, L.E., Wiesmann, D., Joseph, M. & Carriquiry A. 2009. Dietary Diversity as a Measure of the Micronutrient Adequacy of Women’s Diets: Results from Rural Bangladesh Site. Washington (DC): Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance II Project, Academy for Educational Development;2009.(availableathttp://www.fantaproject.org/downloads/pdfs/WDDP_Bangladesh_Dec09.pdf)
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  • APA Style

    Omer Seid, Mache Tsadik, Nechey Kassa. (2015). Night Blindness is a Serious Public Health Problem of Pregnant Women’s in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 3(1), 17-23. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20150301.13

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    ACS Style

    Omer Seid; Mache Tsadik; Nechey Kassa. Night Blindness is a Serious Public Health Problem of Pregnant Women’s in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2015, 3(1), 17-23. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20150301.13

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    AMA Style

    Omer Seid, Mache Tsadik, Nechey Kassa. Night Blindness is a Serious Public Health Problem of Pregnant Women’s in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. J Food Nutr Sci. 2015;3(1):17-23. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20150301.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jfns.20150301.13,
      author = {Omer Seid and Mache Tsadik and Nechey Kassa},
      title = {Night Blindness is a Serious Public Health Problem of Pregnant Women’s in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia},
      journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
      volume = {3},
      number = {1},
      pages = {17-23},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20150301.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20150301.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20150301.13},
      abstract = {Introduction: Night blindness is significant public health problem among pregnant women in Ethiopia and estimated to be more severe in rural areas. However; there is insufficient information about the magnitude of night blindness among pregnant women’s of rural Ethiopia. The same is true in the study region. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of night blindness among pregnant Women’s in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross sectional study design was employed in February 2013 among selected 323 pregnant women’s. Two stage cluster sampling was employed; in the first stage seven kebeles were selected randomly, in the second stage study subjects were selected with considering probability proportional to population size (PPS). A structured and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection based on the objective of the study. The data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 16. Bivariate & multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with night blindness at confidence limits of 95% and P-value less than 5% significant. Frequencies, proportion, summary statistics were used for presenting the result of the study. Results: out of 323 pregnant women 56 (17%) were suffered from night blindness.  Pregnant women’s age beyond 35 years were 4.9 times more likely to be night blinded than those with age less than 25 years [AOR=4.9; 95% CI: (1.6-14.9)]. Pregnant women’s income less than 500 Ethiopian birr per month were 2 times more likely to be night blinded than those who can earn more than that [AOR=2.0; 95% CI:(1.02-3.9)]. Pregnant women’s didn’t have own cattle were 5.6 times more likely to be night blinded than those who have cattle [AOR=5.6; 95% CI: (2.9, 11.0)]. Pregnant women’s with no hand washing practice after toilet were 3 times more likely to be night blinded than having hand washing practice after toilet [AOR=3.0; 95% CI:(1.3 -7.1)]. Conclusion: Night blindness is a serious public health problem of pregnant women’s. Pregnant Women’s age greater than 35 years, not having cattle, no hand washing practice after toilet and income less than 500 Ethiopian birr per month, were significantly affected by night blindness.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Night Blindness is a Serious Public Health Problem of Pregnant Women’s in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia
    AU  - Omer Seid
    AU  - Mache Tsadik
    AU  - Nechey Kassa
    Y1  - 2015/02/10
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20150301.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20150301.13
    T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    SP  - 17
    EP  - 23
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7293
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20150301.13
    AB  - Introduction: Night blindness is significant public health problem among pregnant women in Ethiopia and estimated to be more severe in rural areas. However; there is insufficient information about the magnitude of night blindness among pregnant women’s of rural Ethiopia. The same is true in the study region. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of night blindness among pregnant Women’s in Tahtay Koraro District, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross sectional study design was employed in February 2013 among selected 323 pregnant women’s. Two stage cluster sampling was employed; in the first stage seven kebeles were selected randomly, in the second stage study subjects were selected with considering probability proportional to population size (PPS). A structured and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection based on the objective of the study. The data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 16. Bivariate & multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with night blindness at confidence limits of 95% and P-value less than 5% significant. Frequencies, proportion, summary statistics were used for presenting the result of the study. Results: out of 323 pregnant women 56 (17%) were suffered from night blindness.  Pregnant women’s age beyond 35 years were 4.9 times more likely to be night blinded than those with age less than 25 years [AOR=4.9; 95% CI: (1.6-14.9)]. Pregnant women’s income less than 500 Ethiopian birr per month were 2 times more likely to be night blinded than those who can earn more than that [AOR=2.0; 95% CI:(1.02-3.9)]. Pregnant women’s didn’t have own cattle were 5.6 times more likely to be night blinded than those who have cattle [AOR=5.6; 95% CI: (2.9, 11.0)]. Pregnant women’s with no hand washing practice after toilet were 3 times more likely to be night blinded than having hand washing practice after toilet [AOR=3.0; 95% CI:(1.3 -7.1)]. Conclusion: Night blindness is a serious public health problem of pregnant women’s. Pregnant Women’s age greater than 35 years, not having cattle, no hand washing practice after toilet and income less than 500 Ethiopian birr per month, were significantly affected by night blindness.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia

  • Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia

  • College of Health Sciences, Axum University, Axum, Ethiopia

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