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CSU 90/2010: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION AND NEONATAL MORTALITY
This meta-regression is interesting because many countries with problems of neonatal mortality do not, as a matter of policy, give vitamin A before six months of age. Do such policies need a revisit?
Good reading.
BD
Vitamin A supplementation and neonatal mortality in the developing world: a meta-regression of cluster randomized trials
Michael Anthony Rotondi
a & Nooshin KhobziaFindings
Meta-regression analysis revealed a statistically significant linear relationship between the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in pregnant women and the observed effectiveness of vitamin A supplementation at birth. In regions where at least 22% of pregnant women have vitamin A deficiency giving neonates vitamin A supplements will have a protective effect against infant death.Conclusion
A meta-regression analysis is observational in nature and may suffer from confounding bias. Nevertheless, our study suggests that vitamin A supplementation can reduce infant mortality in regions where this micronutrient deficiency is common. Thus, neonatal supplementation programs may prove most beneficial in regions where the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among pregnant women is high.