Determinants of gestational night blindness in pregnant women from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Objective To describe the prevalence and determinants of gestational night blindness in pregnant women receiving care in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Design Cross-sectional study of pregnant and postpartum women receiving care in a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro from 1999 to 2001 (group I; n 225) or from 2005 to 2008 (group II; n 381). Night blindness was identified through a standardized and validated interview (WHO, 1996). The determinants of gestational night blindness were identified through a hierarchical logistic regression model. Setting Public maternity hospital in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Subjects Adult pregnant and postpartum women (n 606), aged 20 years. Results The prevalence of gestational night blindness was 99 %. The final model revealed that not living in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro (distal level: adjusted OR=1846; 95 % CI 1002, 3401), belonging to group I (intermediate level: adjusted OR=2183; 95 % CI 1066, 4471) and for the proximal level, having a history of abortion (adjusted OR=2840; 95 % CI 1134, 7115) and having anaemia during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy (adjusted OR=3776; 95 % CI 1579, 9029) were determinants of gestational night blindness. Conclusion Gestational night blindness should be assessed for during the prenatal care of all pregnant women, especially those living in deprived areas of the city and/or who have a history of abortion or anaemia. Nutritional monitoring is recommended during pregnancy to control gestational night blindness.