Community-based social and demographic assessment of knowledge, attitudes, practices and medical conditions related to vitamin D deficiency in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Sajida Maryam ◽  
Saman Saba ◽  
Waseem Haider ◽  
Muhmmad Sohail Afzal ◽  
Saiqa Mukhtar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Gilgit Baltistan

Abstract Vitamin D is an important nutrient for bone health, and vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of various diseases. Gilgit Baltistan, the northern-most area of Pakistan, has a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, despite many nutritional and food safety programmes. The present study aimed to find how knowledge, attitudes and practices associated with vitamin D related to the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among people residing in different areas of Gilgit Baltistan. The cross-sectional study was descriptive and used data from a survey carried out between February 2019 and December 2020 on individuals of both sexes aged 10 years or over in Gilgit Baltistan. Of the 575 survey participants, 306 (53.2%) had experienced signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, i.e. tiredness, fatigue and bone weakness. Approximately 64.8% had some general knowledge of vitamin D and its relation to health. Participants aged 19–25 years had the highest scores on knowledge of vitamin D. Only 22.7% of interviewees had ever taken any supplements and only 25.6% often exposed themselves to sunlight. Females’ mean knowledge score (28.7; SD 7.02) was higher than that of males (24; SD 9.01). A lack of consistency was observed between attitude towards daylight exposure and knowledge of vitamin D. There was a large correlation between knowledge and attitude (p = 0.001), while a non-significant association was demonstrated between knowledge and practices (p = 0.1). Better knowledge, attitude and practices by people living in cities or more-developed regions indicates that education can be an effective way to provide awareness regarding micronutrient deficiencies. More emphasis is needed on enhancing knowledge, awareness and practices associated with vitamin D deficiency in rural areas of Pakistan. It is strongly recommended that an awareness campaign on micronutrients is launched in both rural and urban areas of Pakistan, concentrating on poor socioeconomic settings.

scholarly journals Patterns of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Youths and Adolescents in Vietnam

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha Ngoc Do ◽  
Diep Ngoc Nguyen ◽  
Hoa Quynh Thi Nguyen ◽  
Anh Tuan Nguyen ◽  
Hiep Duy Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Unintended Pregnancy ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
Risky Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Practices

Youths and adolescents are vulnerable to HIV/STIs from unprotected sex. Promotion of young population’s awareness about risky sexual behaviors is essential to develop contextualized interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five Vietnamese provinces to document current attitudes and practices regarding sexual behaviors among youths. The information on sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and sexual behaviors was collected via self-reported questionnaires. The factors associated with risky sexual behaviors were identified by the multivariate logistic regression. Among the 1200 participants, 73.5% reported having sex in their lifetime, and 48.1% used condoms at their latest sexual intercourse. Participants in urban areas were more likely not to intend to use condoms and had a higher unintended pregnancy rate than in rural areas. Older age was positively associated with not wanting to use and not using condoms. Substance-using participants were more likely to not use condoms. The participants taking alcohol or other stimulants before sex had a higher likelihood of unintended pregnancy. Respondents’ attitudes and practices regarding sexual behaviors were associated with gender and employment. This study indicated that young population’s awareness in Vietnam is high, however, risky sexual behaviors also remain common. Sex-related educational programs about the consequences of substance use, multiple sex partners, and unprotected sex should be developed.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among Libyan people- a web-based cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Special1) ◽  
pp. 348-356
Author(s):  
Saad Ahmed Ali Jadoo ◽  
Omer Mohamed Danfour ◽  
Masud Zerzah ◽  
Mouna Abdelrahman Abujazia ◽  
Perihan Torun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Urban Regions ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Attitude And Practice ◽  
Knowledge Attitude And Practice

Background: Successful plans in disaster and epidemics management depend on the feedback response and the assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices among the target population. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among Libyan people.  Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey designed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among the Libyan people from 13-20 October 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was recruited to collect the data of 287 participants. SPSS version 16.0 was used to analyze the data using univariate and multivariable regression data analyses. Results: More than half of respondents were males (53.7%), married (61.3%), aged less than 45 years old, highly educated (46.3%), employed (44.6%), urban resident(79.8%), experience good or very good health (71.1%) and earned more than USD 200 monthly (84.3.%). The participants showed a high rate of good knowledge (81.0%), attitude (71.1%), and practice (83.7%) towards COVID-19, respectively. Regression analysis showed that married (P=0.056), female (P=0.037), living in the urban regions (P<0.001) with good income of more than USD 2020 (P=0.001) were significantly associated with upper knowledge score. Females (P=0.040) were more significantly associated with positive attitude scores than males. Regarding practice score, married (P=0.001), females (P=0.059) had better practice, but poor-rated health status (P=0.018) was significantly associated with the weak practice. Conclusion: The distinction of urban regions with good knowledge, optimistic attitudes, and acceptable practices towards COVID-19 determines the government's action compass towards more interest in supporting males, unhealthy, and those living in the rural areas with accurate and timely knowledge.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Exclusively Breast Fed Infants in Suburban Area Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (44) ◽  
pp. 3730-3735
Author(s):  
Rohit Kumar Agrawal ◽  
Preeti Sharma ◽  
Pradeep Kumar ◽  
Mehek Jaggi ◽  
Rachna Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin D3 ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Skin Pigmentation ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Tall Buildings ◽  
Hypovitaminosis D ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cross Sectional

BACKGROUND Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age with all its beneficial effects on child survival. Several studies have shown that adequate intake of vitamin D cannot be met with human milk as the sole source of vitamin D, although risk factors for developing vitamin D deficiency may be low maternal levels of vitamin D, indoor confinement during the day, living at higher altitudes, living in urban areas with tall buildings, air pollution, darker skin pigmentation, use of sunscreen and covering much over the body when outside. An infant who is entirely on breastfeeding and has minimal to no exposure to sunlight is more prone to the development of hypovitaminosis-D. The main purpose of the study was to identify the prevalence & high-risk groups of hypovitaminosis D in exclusively breastfed babies. METHODS It was a cross-sectional observational study consisting of 30 entirely breastfed healthy full-term babies with a birth weight > 2.5 kg. Babies born to mothers with a history of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, antepartum haemorrhage, tuberculosis, and other chronic medical illnesses were excluded from the study. The period of study was from 1st August 2019 to 30th September 2019. Their serum vitamin D3, serum calcium, serum phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels were measured using appropriate methods. RESULTS In our study, 25 infants out of 30 came out as vitamin D deficient. The prevalence of vitamin D3 was found to be 83 %. CONCLUSIONS Breastfeeding is of utmost importance but the nutritional status of the mother, proper exposure to the sun, and vitamin D supplementation are the factors that should be taken care of for the prevention of hypovitaminosis D. KEY WORDS Vitamin D3, Hypovitaminosis D, Exclusive Breast Feeding, term babies, infants, Sun Exposure, Rickets

scholarly journals Knowledge on Vitamin D Deficiency among Antenatal Women in a View to Prepare Information Guide Sheet

2018 ◽  
Vol 08 (03) ◽  
pp. 003-006
Author(s):  
Anishlyn R. ◽  
Anna Punnose ◽  
Josephine Khonja ◽  
Shiji P J. ◽  
Precilla D'Silva
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Bone Mineralization ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Knowledge Questionnaire ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
Maternal Vitamin D Status

AbstractVitamin D is essential to maintain bone health, playing a key role in bone mineralization. Severe vitamin D deficiency in children results in rickets. As stores of vitamin D in newborns are dependent on maternal vitamin D status, vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy leads to infant vitamin D deficiency and thus increases risk of rickets. Objectives: To assess the knowledge regarding Vitamin D deficiency and to find the association of knowledge score and demographic variables. Materials and Methods: A descriptive approach was adopted for this study. The study was conducted in OBG outpatient department of tertiary Hospital at Mangaluru. The study sample was 100 antenatal women. A knowledge questionnaire was used to collect the data regarding knowledge on vitamin D deficiency. Result: In this study 65% of antenatal women had average knowledge, 34% antenatal women had poor knowledge and single antenatal women had good knowledge on vitamin D deficiency. The knowledge in the area of complication to the fetus was 38%, knowledge in the other areas were daily requirements 56%, prevention 52% and signs and symptoms 48%. Interpretation and conclusion: After conducting the study the result showed that, majority of the antenatal women had average knowledge regarding vitamin D deficiency. For further improvement of the knowledge, antenatal women were provided with an information guide sheet (pamphlet).

scholarly journals Students’ ”D”ILEMMA: An Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice Toward Vitamin D Among University Students

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Negia Mohamed ◽  
Walid Al-Qerem ◽  
Ezeddin Gassar ◽  
Mohammad Hailat ◽  
Faiza Elhamdy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
University Students ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Supplement Use

Abstract Background: The message delivered to the public regarding vitamin D is unclear, and contradictory; particularly regarding sun exposure; previous studies in Jordan have revealed high prevalence of low vitamin D among university students. The aim of this study was to investigate university students’ knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding vitamin D.Method: A web-based cross-sectional survey completed by students at a Jordanian university in 2019. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to predict supplement use.Results: 496 students completed the questionnaire. The mean knowledge score was 31.3 (± 11.3) out of 100. Women had significantly higher beliefs that vitamin D deficiency is an escalating health issue (p<0.01). Negative practices regarding sun exposure was significantly higher in women than men (p<0.01). The majority of participants recognized that insufficient sun exposure was a cause of vitamin D deficiency, but 50.7 % avoid sun exposure, and 67.6% expose only their face and hands. The consumption of fortified foods (OR 3.59-;p<0.001) was the only studied variable associated with vitamin D consumption.Conclusion: There is a gap between knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding vitamin D which can be bridged by promoting Vitamin D related awareness.

scholarly journals Vitamin D Status and Its Determinants in Mexican Pregnant Women from a Rural and an Urban Area: A Comparative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4571
Author(s):  
Mayra Chávez-Courtois ◽  
Estela Godínez-Martínez ◽  
Cinthya Muñoz-Manrique ◽  
Viviana Negrete-Martínez ◽  
Carla Patricia González-Leyva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Sunlight Exposure ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Vitamin D Status

Background: During pregnancy, vitamin D requirements are higher due to fetal growth and development. Vitamin D production occurs mainly through sunlight exposure, which is affected by geographic location and lifestyle factors. Methods: This was a case-control study nested within two cohorts of adult pregnant women (n = 298): urban (Mexico City) and rural (Cuetzalan). To reduce confounding, pairs were selected by age, pregestational body mass index, and pregnancy trimester. Generalized linear models were used to assess the two groups according to their vitamin D status. Results: A total of 298 adult women were studied: 149 from a rural area and 149 from an urban area. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were observed in 28% and 38.2% of women, respectively. A trend for higher 25(OH)D concentrations was observed in women from the rural area (27.5 ng/mL vs. 25.8 ng/mL), probably related to the type of job, where women with partial jobs showing less probability of having vitamin D deficiency (OR = 0.26; CI = 0.06–1.16; p = 0.08) and vitamin D insufficiency (OR = 0.24; CI = 0.06–0.99; p = 0.05). Women whose Last Menstrual Period occurred in spring showed lower vitamin D concentration compared to those whose LMP occurred in winter (p < 0.01). Conclusions: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was observed in both rural and urban areas. Women living in rural areas tended to have higher 25(OH)D concentrations, probably related to more sunlight exposure associated with their type of job.

scholarly journals Prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy in asymptomatic population.

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 2569-2573
Author(s):  
Asifa Abdul Jabbar ◽  
Fozia Unar ◽  
Fiza Ali Khan ◽  
Shahida Karamat ◽  
Naeem Akhter Khokhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Informed Consent ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Informed Consent Form ◽  
Vitamin D Levels

Objectives: The aim of study was to determine vitamin d deficiency in age and sex groups associated with different regions. Therefore, this diagnostic method has played an important role in the prevention of various medical conditions. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences Gambat, Khairpur Sindh. Period: 14 August 2016 to 24 February 2018. Material & Methods: Total 1924 participants were screened and included in the study by fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Exclusion criteria were signs and symptoms of any chronic disease, active injury, abnormal liver function or any chronic kidney and pregnancy problem. All participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were interviewed after taking informed consent. Questionnaires for the study were prepared and distributed to the selected population. According to the questionnaire and interviews by the researchers, details of lifestyles, social status, and monthly income were reported. Moreover, marital status, milk in take, and sun exposure hours were also asked. Blood sample of each participant was taken after taking written informed consent form. A total 1924 people screened for Vitamin D levels with help of direct chemiluminescence using ADVIA Centaur assay. Results: 1924 people from five different regions of Gambat. A total of 1153 (59.9%) people with vitamin D deficiency were found, while 724 showed normal rates and 47 found to be larger than normal. Females are more deficient for vitamin D (35.7%) than males (24.4%). Conclusion: The high population without symptoms with low levels Vitamin D is an alarming sign of deteriorating health, while multiple risk factors appear.

Clinical factors correlated with vitamin D deficiency in patients with obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery: A single center experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 346-352
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Pilone ◽  
Salvatore Tramontano ◽  
Carmen Cutolo ◽  
Federica Marchese ◽  
Antonio Maria Pagano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Model Assessment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Serum Vitamin D ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Vitamin D Levels

Abstract. We aim to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in patients scheduled for bariatric surgery (BS), and to identify factors that might be associated with VDD. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study involving all consecutive patients scheduled for BS from 2017 to 2019. The exclusion criteria were missing data for vitamin D levels, intake of vitamin D supplements in the 3 months prior to serum vitamin D determination, and renal insufficiency. A total of 206 patients (mean age and body mass index [BMI] of 34.9 ± 10.7 years, and 44.3 ± 6.99 kg/m2, respectively) met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled for data analysis. VDD (<19.9 ng/mL), severe VDD (<10 ng/mL), and vitamin D insufficiency (20–29.9 ng/mL) were present in 68.8 %, 12.5 %, and 31.2 % of patients, respectively. A significant inverse correlation was found between vitamin D levels and initial BMI, parathyroid hormone, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (r = −0.280, p < 0.05; r = −0.407, p = 0.038; r = −0.445, p = 0.005), respectively. VDD was significantly more prevalent in patients with higher BMI [−0.413 ± 0.12, CI95 % (−0.659; −0.167), p = 0.006], whereas no significant association between hypertension [−1.005 ± 1.65, CI95 % (−4.338; 2.326), p = 0.001], and diabetes type 2 (T2D) [−0.44 ± 2.20, CI95 % (−4.876; 3.986), p = 0.841] was found. We observed significant association between female sex and levels of vitamin D [6.69 ± 2.31, CI95 % (2.06; 11.33), p = 0.006]. The present study shows that in patients scheduled for BS, VDD deficiency is common and was associated with higher BMI, and female sex.

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