ABSTRACT
Background: Vitamin D, an essential fat-soluble vitamin or steroid pro hormone, plays an important role in the regulation of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis and bone mineralization. Three main sources of vitamin D which include sunlight exposure, dietary sources, and supplement intake. Vitamin D deficiency is unexpected in a tropical country such as Pakistan India and Bangladesh specially in pregnant women.
Aim: This aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women of Peshawar Pakistan.
Methodology: Three eighty-four pregnant women were screened for vitamin D deficiency by measuring 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Recruitment into the study was over a 6-month period. Total sample size was 384 after being calculated on an online sample size calculator. Prevalence for vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women was taken 50% with 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error.
Results: Out of 384 pregnant women results showed that 19 (4.4%) pregnant women were having Vitamin D deficiency (Vitamin D level are less than 10), 222(51.2%) were having Vitamin D Insufficiency and (Vitamin D level range from 10 to 30), 136(31.3%) had sufficient Vitamin D (Vitamin D level ranges from 30 to 100). 7(1.82%) pregnant women show Vitamin D intoxication (Vitamin D level was above 100). Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in age group of 39 to 46 (12.6%) and also in women of 18-24 age group (5.8%)
Conclusion: Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is significant in pregnant women. It is also important for its effects on various organs and systems of body as well as on pregnancy and neonate. The different aspects of study led to conclusion to emphasize that Health education be imparted to pregnant women and their families in terms of diet, proper sunlight exposure and taking vitamin D supplements in pregnancy. It is thus recommended to perform serum Vitamin D diagnosis in every pregnant woman.
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