Article ViewAbstractInternational Journal of Medicine and Public Health,2011,1,4,39-44.DOI:10.5530/ijmedph.4.2011.8Published:Oct/2011Type:Original ArticleCoverage with vitamin A oil supplementation and factors influencing its uptake among children residing in an urban slum in KolkataDr. Sonali Sain, Dr. Prianka Mukhopadhyay, Dr. Tushar Kanti Saha, and Dr. Ritu Ghosh Dr. Sonali Sain, MD1, Dr. Prianka Mukhopadhyay, MD1, Dr. Tushar Kanti Saha, MD1, Dr. Ritu Ghosh, MD2 1Dept. of Community Medicine, NRS Medical College, Kolkata West Bengal. 2Dept. of Community Medicine, R.G.Kar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal. Abstract:Vitamin A oil supplementation of under-five children has been an effective strategy in reducing nutritional blindness and other childhood morbidity and mortality. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the coverage and factors influencing its uptake among 60–72 months old children residing in an urban slum in Kolkata. Out of 150 children only 61 (40.7%) had completed all 9 doses of vitamin A while immunization was up-to-date in a substantially higher (96.0%) proportion of children. Incomplete dosage of vitamin A oil were found to be higher in females, birth order above 2, families with low per capita income and poor nutritional status of the child. The association between maternal education and knowledge about dietary source was found to be statistically significant (χ2 = 15, p < 0.05). Diet survey revealed inadequate intake in the majority (70.7%). Inadequate supply and lack of awareness were the two most common reasons of non compliance. More efforts are needed to ensure availability and awareness regarding vitamin A oil supplementation, promote dietary diversification and monitoring of health workers to prevent both under and overprescription with vitamin A oil. Keywords:compliance, coverage, Vitamin A supplementation.View:PDF (350.82 KB) PDFClick here to download the PDF file. ‹ Clinical Profile and outcome of envenomous snake-bite at tertiary care centre in western Maharashtra up Nalidixic acid resistant Salmonella paratyphi A causing urinary tract infection in a patient with nephrolithiasis: Case report ›