This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:

Primary:

1. To evaluate the effect of synthetic vitamin A supplementation in postpartum mothers in developing countries irrespective of antenatal vitamin A supplementation status, on mortality, morbidity, and adverse effects in their infants until the age of one year.

2. To evaluate the effect of synthetic vitamin A supplementation initiated in the first half of infancy (< 6 months of age) in developing countries irrespective of maternal antenatal or postnatal vitamin A supplementation status on mortality, morbidity, and reactions until the age of one year.

Subgroup analyses:

The proposed subgroup analyses for the infant mortality component in the maternal postpartum supplementation review are:

• Cumulative vitamin A dose received by the mother; low dose (< 200,000 IU) vs. high dose (> 200,000 IU)

• Baseline maternal vitamin A status; maternal night blindness prevalences of < 5% (low) vs . > 5% (high), and mean maternal antenatal or postpartum serum retinol levels of > 1.1 micromoles/L (low) vs . <1.1 micromoles/L (high)

• Birth weight; <2500 grams (low birth weight) vs. > 2500 grams (normal birth weight)

The proposed subgroup analyses for the infant mortality component in the infant supplementation review are:

• Age at initiation of prophylactic vitamin A supplementation; neonatal period (0 ‐ 1 month) vs. post‐neonatal period (1 ‐ 6 months)

• Cumulative vitamin A dose received by the infant until the age of six months; low dose (< 50,000 IU) vs. high dose (> 50,000)

• Maternal postpartum vitamin A supplementation; received vs. not received

• Baseline maternal vitamin A status; maternal night blindness prevalences of < 5% (low) vs. > 5% (high), and mean maternal antenatal or postpartum serum retinol levels of > 1.1 micromoles/L (low) vs . < 1.1 micromoles/L (high)

• Birth weight; < 2500 grams (low birth weight) vs. > 2500 grams (normal birth weight)