Prevalence of serum retinol <0.70 µmol/l and number of individuals affected among preschool-age children and pregnant women in populations of countries at risk of vitamin A deficiency 1995-2005, globally and by WHO region
The estimates show that the Africa and South-East Asia regions contain the highest proportions of preschool-age children with biochemical VAD, as indicated by a serum retinol concentration <0.70 µmol/l, with South-East Asia having the greatest number of children and pregnant women affected.
| WHO region | Preschool-age childrena | Pregnant women | ||
| Prevalenceb (%) | Number affected (millions) | Prevalence (%) | Number affected (millions) | |
| Africa | 44.4 (41.3-47.5)c |
56.4 (52.4-60.3) |
13.5 (8.9-18.2) |
4.18 (2.73-5.63) |
| Americas | 15.6 (6.6-24.5) |
8.68 (3.70-13.7) |
2 (0.4-3.6) |
0.23 (0.04-0.41) |
| South-East Asia | 49.9 (45.1-54.8) |
91.5 (82.6-100) |
17.3 (0.0-36.2) |
6.69 (0.00-14.0) |
| Europe | 19.7 (9.7-29.6) |
5.81 (2.87-8.75) |
11.6 (2.6-20.6) |
0.72 (0.16-1.29) |
| Eastern Mediterranean | 20.4 (13.2-27.6) |
13.2 (8.54-17.9) |
16.1 (9.2-23.1) |
2.42 (1.38-3.47) |
| Western Pacific | 12.9 (12.3-13.5) |
14.3 (13.6-14.9) |
21.5 (0.0-49.2) |
4.9 (1.00-11.2) |
| Global | 33.3 (31.3-35.4) |
190 (178-202) |
15.3 (7.4-23.2) |
19.1 (9.30-29.0) |
a Population subgroups: Preschool-age children (<5 years); Pregnant women (no age range defined).
b Numerator and denominator excludes countries with a 2005 GDP ≥US$ 15 000.
c 95% Confidence Intervals.
Source
WHO. Global prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in populations at risk 1995–2005. WHO Global Database on Vitamin A Deficiency. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2009.