Evaluation of vitamin D supplementation intake among children; cross-sectional observational study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess  the vitamin D supplementation intake status among children from different nationalities in the UAE,  to determine vitamin D intake practices through diet and lifestyle, and the barriers that parents in the UAE  face with providing vitamin D supplementation to their children.   Methods: A cross-sectional observational questionnaire-based survey study design was used.. The study was conducted in the U.A.E and the study participants were parents of children from ages 4-15 years. The questionnaire used in this study was both self-administered and interviewer-administered while inquiring the questions from the parents. A convenience sampling technique was used to collect the data. The response rate of participants was expected to be 63%, the margin of error was 5% and the level of confidence was 95%.   Results: A total of 248 participants (203 mothers, 39 fathers and 6 caregivers) completed the study. Participants reported that the supplements used the most by children were vitamin D supplements (21.85%), followed by multivitamins (21.8%) and calcium supplements (5.6%) and 27.8% of participants in this study reported  to  no  supplementation at all. The rate of vitamin D supplementation among children was higher in those families with higher income levels, parents/caregivers who were more educated, those families who attained health insurance. However, there was no statistical significance between these correlations. Conclusion: The study concluded that challenges like the educational and financial background of parents, family-income level, and health insurance status could help aid in addressing the overall burden of vitamin D deficiency among young children in the UAE. Pediatricians and health care professionals could use our study and use it as an aid to provide screening on lifestyle, sun light exposure, and dietary modifications and also educate parents why and how vitamin D is crucial for their children

Evaluation of vitamin D supplementation intake among children; cross-sectional observational study

Background: The purpose of this study was to review the vitamin D supplementation intake status among children in the general public, determine the vitamin D supplements practices, and the barriers that parents and children face with supplementation.   Methods: A cross-sectional observational questionnaire-based survey study design was used. A convenience sampling technique was used to collect the data. An online Rao soft sample size calculator was applied to determine the sample size of 319. The response rate of participants was expected to be 63%, the margin of error was 5% and the level of confidence was 95%.   Results: A total of 248 parents (89.1% mothers (n =203)) and 15.7% fathers (n=39) with a mean ± SD age of 35.4 ± 7.04 years, completed the study (77.7% response rate). Parents reported that the supplements used the most by children were vitamin D supplements (21.85%) and multivitamins (21.8%) followed by calcium supplements (5.6%). However, 27.8% of children in this study did not take any supplements. Of all the parents, 65% (162) of them reported sending their child outside to play while 34.67% (86) of parents had reported no outdoor activity. Approximately 184 (74.2%) parents reported the child’s diet to contain multiple natural sources of vitamin D. However, 69 (27.8%) parents reported giving none of the natural sources of vitamin D to their children through the diet. Parents with higher education about 62.9% (n=156) had a higher frequency of providing vitamin D supplements to their children. Children in high-income families (43.63%) were more likely to take vitamin D supplements than those in middle- or low-income families.     Conclusion: The study concluded that challenges like the educational and financial background of parents, family-income level, and health insurance status could help aid in addressing the overall burden of vitamin D deficiency among young children

Injection cessation and relapse to injection and the associated factors among people who inject drugs in Iran: The Rostam study.

BACKGROUND: Drug injection is a major health-related problem worldwide. Injection cessation and relapse to injection could significantly alter the risk of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who inject drugs (PWID). This study aimed to estimate the rate of injection cessation and relapse to injection among PWID in Iran. METHODS: This cohort study was conducted from 2018 to 2021 in the cities of Kerman and Tehran. Using a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) approach, 118 PWID with a history of injection in the last six months and negative HIV and HCV tests were recruited. Follow-up visits occurred every three months over a period of one year. Participants were interviewed and tested for HIV and HCV using rapid tests. Injection cessation was defined as the no injection of any type of drugs in the last three months. Relapse to injection was defined as re-initiating drug injection among those who had ceased injection. Two separate Cox regression models were applied, and an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were measured to assess the factors associated with each outcome. RESULTS: The rate of injection cessation was 26.1 (95% CI: 21.3, 32.0) per 100 person-years, and the rate of relapse to injection was 32.7 (95% CI: 24.7, 43.2) per 100 person-years. At the baseline interview, 39.8% (n = 47) of participants reported injection cessation in the past three months before the interview. In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, the rate of relapse to injection was greater among women (aHR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.52), and those with higher monthly income (aHR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.59). However, there was no significant variable that predicted injection cessation. CONCLUSION: Injection cessation was common among PWID in Iran, however, one-third relapsed to injection shortly after cessation. Harm reduction programs should include comprehensive strategies to reduce the probability of relapse among PWID who achieve injection cessation