الفهرس 
AIM OF THE WORKOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent among Egyptian mothers and their neonates.
Between 25.7 % and 77.2% of Egyptian infants and women (pregnant and non-pregnant) had vitamin D inadequacy. Several studies from different parts of the world show that knowledge, attitude and behavior play an important role in influencing the major risk factors leading to vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency.
The aim of this work was to assess the knowledge and attitude of mothers attending primary health care center in Cairo towards vitamin D importance, to identify mothers’ practices towards vitamin D and its supplementation, to identify mothers’ practices towards sun light exposure and to assess the relationship between knowledge and practice of mothers and the presence of symptoms and signs suggestive of rickets among their children.
A structured interview questionnaire was designed and applied on (195) mothers. The questionnaire included:
Section I: Sociodemographic characteristics of the studied mothers.
Section II: Information related to the participant’s knowledge about the importance of vitamin D, The source(s) of the participants’ knowledge about vitamin D, knowledge about problems associated with vitamin D deficiency and the main source of vitamin D.
Section III: Information related to the participant’s attitude towards vitamin D and its supplementation.
Section IV: Information related to the participant’s practice towards vitamin D supplementation and sun light exposure, participant’s practice towards her child.
Section V: Information related to presence or absence of symptoms suggestive of rickets noticed by mothers on their children or physician.
Concerning characteristics of the studied mothers: The mean age of the mothers was 30.1 ± 4.7years.More than half of the mothers (70.2%) were in the age group (25-34 years). Less than half of the mothers (40.5%) had two children the mean age of the children was (22± 17.3) months. In addition, nearly three quarters (72.3%) of the studied mothers with a bachelor’s degree / profession degree. More than half of the studied mothers (51.8%) were house wives. Near two third (63.1%) of them were living in their owned house. Regarding family income, (51.8%) of the studied mothers, their families earned (1000 to 4000) EGP.
Regarding score percentage of knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers towards vitamin D and its supplementation: Less than one quarter of the mothers (22.6%) had a good knowledge towards vitamin D and its supplementation while about three fifths of the mothers (63.1%) had a positive attitude regarding vitamin D and its supplementation and less than half of the mothers (46.7 %) had a good practice towards vitamin D and its supplementation.
Regarding mothers’ practice towards sun light exposure: the study revealed inadequate exposure of mothers to the sun light. Less than one quarter of mothers (22.3%) had a good practice towards sun light exposure (total practice score percentage ≥75%).
Regarding mothers’ practice towards giving vitamin D supplements to her children: less than half of the mothers (48.7%) gave their children vitamin D supplementation and about half of them (52.1%) started giving supplements since birth. The mean age that they started giving them vitamin D supplements was (2.4 ±3.6) months.
Regarding the relationship between presence of symptoms suggestive of rickets noticed by mothers on their children and sun exposure: There was a statistically significant difference between exposing children to the sun and change in the shape of the head, delayed teeth eruption and recurrent infection.
Regarding the relationship between presence of symptoms suggestive of rickets noticed by mothers on their children and vitamin D intake: There was a statistically significant difference between giving vitamin D supplementation to the children and delayed closure of the anterior fontanel and delayed growth of the children.
Regarding the association between socio demographic characteristics of the studied mothers and their knowledge, attitude and practice towards vitamin D:
There was a statistically significant difference between mothers age in relation to the mean knowledge and attitude score of mothers (P <0.05).
There was a statistically significant difference between level of education, housing status in relation to the mean knowledge, attitude and practice score of mothers (P <0.05).
There was a statistically significant difference between mother’s occupation in relation to the mean knowledge and practice score of mothers (P <0.05).
There was a statistically significant difference between monthly income in relation to the mean knowledge and practice score of mothers (P <0.05).
Recommendations include: Health education campaign and counseling about the sources of vitamin D including sun exposure, vitamin supplementation and food sources and benefits of vitamin D and training of health care providers.