Use of Infant Vitamin D Supplementation among Women Attending a Local Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Purpose: Breastfeeding without adequate vitamin D supplementation may predispose infants to vitamin D deficiency and rickets. The aim of this report was to determine the percent of women attending a local WIC program who met the infant vitamin D recommendation and to explore determinants of supplementation. Methods: A cross-sectional de-identified survey was completed, via an online platform, by a sample of women attending two district clinics. The survey collected information concerning the respondent\u27s youngest child on infant feeding at 3 months, vitamin D supplementation and knowledge. Meeting the vitamin D recommendation was defined as either receiving 400 IU daily through supplementation, consuming 32 oz. of infant formula or a combination of both. Results: Among a sample of 163 women (72% Hispanic), 28% reported giving their infant a vitamin D supplement and 31% met the recommendation. Mothers who reported receiving recommendations from a health care professional were 26-times more likely to provide vitamin D supplementation (95 % CI: 5, 135, p\u3c0.01). Conclusions: Use of infant vitamin D supplementation was low in this predominately Hispanic sample of mothers. Counseling greatly affected vitamin D supplementation yet; most reported not receiving education from health care providers. Further research is warranted among a larger sample