Vitamin D2026-06

Maternal awareness and practices regarding vitamin D and their impact on health outcomes in children under five years in Egypt.

Saleh Seham El-Sayed, Hendy Abdelaziz, Ibrahim Rasha Kadri, Badr Eman Arafa — Scientific reports

Summary

This study from Egypt explored how mothers' knowledge and actions regarding vitamin D affect their young children's health. It found that while many mothers understood the importance of vitamin D, their actual practices were often inconsistent. Crucially, better maternal practices were linked to improved growth in their children, highlighting the impact of consistent care.

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Key points

Mothers' actions (practices) regarding vitamin D are important for the health and growth of young children.
Many mothers in the study had good knowledge about vitamin D but did not always put it into practice.
Better maternal practices were linked to better growth, specifically height and weight, in their children.
A mother's age and educational background can influence their vitamin D-related practices.

What the study looked at

### What question did the study ask? Researchers wanted to understand if mothers' knowledge and daily habits concerning vitamin D had an impact on the health of their children under five years old in Egypt. ### How was it studied? This study involved 300 mothers and their young children across three regions in Egypt. Researchers collected information on mothers' awareness of vitamin D, their practices related to ensuring their children received enough vitamin D, and various health indicators for the children, such as their height and weight. ### What did it find? The study revealed that a majority of mothers had a good understanding of vitamin D's importance. However, more than half did not consistently apply this knowledge through their daily practices. A moderate link was observed between mothers' better vitamin D practices and improved growth outcomes, specifically in their children's height and weight. The study also noted that a mother's age and educational background influenced their vitamin D-related practices.

Dietary takeaway

This research suggests that what mothers actually do to ensure their children get enough vitamin D is important for their growth. To support healthy development, consider foods rich in vitamin D like fatty fish, fortified milk, or discuss supplements with a healthcare provider if dietary intake is insufficient. Remember, this is one study, and more research is always needed to draw definitive conclusions.

Abstract

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, bone mineralization, and immunological function; nonetheless, vitamin D deficiency (VDD) continues to be a significant health issue in children under five years. In Egypt, VDD is highly prevalent among preschool children, with maternal awareness and nursing practices playing significant roles in its occurrence. This study aimed to identify the relationship between maternal awareness and practices regarding vitamin D and their impact on health outcomes in children under five years. A cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive, and quantitative study was employed. Data collection occurred over eight months throughout three governorates in Egypt, involving 300 mothers and their children under five years of age. Children's health status outcomes were assessed and linked with their mothers' awareness and practice scores regarding vitamin D supplementation. It was found that two-thirds of mothers had satisfactory knowledge about vitamin D deficiency, but more than half showed unsatisfactory practice scores. A moderate positive correlation was found between maternal practices and children's health outcomes as height (r = 0.301, p < 0.001), and weight (0.242, p < 0.001), as well as between mothers' practices and knowledge scores (r = 0.323, p < 0.001). Additionally, maternal practices were significantly influenced by both age and educational level. Maternal practices emerged as a more convincing and coherent associated with child health outcomes than awareness alone. The findings underscore revealed that although over two-thirds of mothers had satisfactory knowledge about VDD, more than half showed unsatisfactory practices. Mothers of children without VDD, and those whose primary teeth erupted before one year demonstrated significantly higher practice scores. A moderate positive correlation was found between maternal practices and children's health outcomes (weight, and height), as well as between mothers' practices and awareness scores. Additionally, maternal practices were significantly influenced by both age and educational level.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-54282-w