Volume 27, Issue 132, February 2023

Awareness of vitamin D deficiency among the general population in Al Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia

Medhat Taha^1,2, Ebrahem R Alsohabi³, Fatimah M Alhassany³, Abdullah A Alrashdi³, Nawaf H Al Rufaydi³, Alhassan H Alfaqeh³, Ali H Alfaqih^3♦, Khalid H Almahmudi³, Hassan Alsuhabi⁴

¹Department of Anatomy, Al-Qunfudah Medical College, Umm Al Qura University, Al-Qunfudhah Saudi Arabia
²Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt
³Al-Qunfudah Medical College, Umm Al Qura University, Al-Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia
⁴Department of Mathematics, Al-Qunfudah University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Al-Qunfudah Medical College, Umm Al Qura University, Al-Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is very common globally. Previous researches revealed that both men and women suffer from high rates of vitamin D deficiency. The goal is to evaluate the level of awareness regarding vitamin D deficiency in Al-Qunfudah governorate, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A six months cross-sectional study was carried out. 1228 individuals formulated an electronic questionnaire using question items from previously validated questionnaires. Result: The total number of participants in the questionnaire is 1228 from Al Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia. Approximately 46% agreed fat-free diet may be a cause of vitamin D deficiency followed by 37% they don’t know. About 42% they don’t know that dark skin is more susceptible vitamin lack than lighter skin. A majority of participants aware that exposure to sun enhances production of vitamin D in the skin and they about 93%. 40% agreed that use of sunscreen creams may be a cause of vitamin D deficiency followed by 36% they do not know 45% aware that vegetarians are more likely to have vitamin D deficiency. Most of participants 81% aware and agree that vitamin D help to strengthen immunity and muscles. Conclusion: Although adults in the Al-Qunfudah Governorate had a generally acceptable knowledge about vitamin D depressed level, older participants had less. Knowledge level and educational level had a strong correlation. We advise promoting vitamin D's importance and raising people's awareness of its sources through advertisements and campaigns.

Keywords: Vitamin D deficiency, Al-Qunfudah, Awareness, Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2023, 27, e109ms2907

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v27i132/e109ms2907

Published: 22 February 2023