Impact of nutrition education and mega-dose vitamin A supplementation on the health of children in Nepal.

摘要: The impact on vitamin A deficiency (VAD), wasting malnutrition, and excessive childhood mortality of two alternative approaches-nutrition education mega-dose capsule distribution (6-12-month-olds: 100,000 IU; 1-5-year-olds: 200,000 IU)-in communities in Nepal are compared. Approximately 40,000 children from 75 locations seven districts ecological settings (lowland hills) took part the study were randomly allocated to intervention cohorts or a control group. At 24 months after implementation project reduction risk for xerophthalmia was greater among whose mothers able identify vitamin-A-rich foods (relative (RR) = 0.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.10-0.62) than who received capsules (RR 0.59; CI 0.41-0.84). at 2 years reduced both nutrition 0.64; Cl 0.48-0.86) 0.57; 0.42-0.77) cohorts. programme was, however, more expensive deliver programme. High rates participation supplementation achieved quickly. messages also spread rapidly throughout population (regardless cohort assignment). Practices, slower change. In where maternal literacy low channels communication limited appeared be economical. However, there economies scale nationwide programmes that do not exist programmes. Although provides promise long-term sustainability, comprehensive national requires dietary components.