Subclinical Vitamin A Deficiency and Malnourishment among East Timor Refugee Children

Context/Background: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children living at refugee camps in East Timor. Methods: A cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted among 89 children (6 to 72 months old) at two refugee camps in Dili, East Timor. We evaluated socio-economic, demographic, nutrition intake of vitamin A, and examined clinically for xerophthalmia. The World Health Organization (WHO) criterion was used to classify the populations' VAD risk and status. Results: Of 89 children, 80.9% received vitamin A supplementation and full immunization, but 5.6% suffered from night blindness, without xerophthalmia. As recommended by WHO, all children consumed fruits/vegetables containing vitamin A sources more than three times per week. 69.7% had been regularly breast fed. Yet almost 30% of the children suffered from moderate to severe malnutrition. Conclusions: Despite social unrest, no evidence of clinical VAD was found among the refugee children in East Timor. However, subclinical VAD occurred at a level of mild-moderate public health importance, with concurrent malnourishment; consequently, this situation warrants further attention. Keywords: Vitamin A Deficiency; Children; Refugee; Night blindness; Malnutritio