859 Survey on awareness and intake of vitamin D in Pregnancy, lactation and infancy

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2022-08, Vol.107 (Suppl 2), p.A276-A276
• Main Authors: Paul Nicholsion, Paul Geetha, Mukhtyar, Bina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts; Babies; Birth; Breast feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Cardiomyopathy; Dietary supplements; Dilated cardiomyopathy; Ethnicity; Females; Guidance; Health care; Infants; Information sources; Lactation; Nutrient deficiency; Online Surveys; Pediatrics; Polls & surveys; Pregnancy; Rickets; Seizures; Surveys; Vitamin D; Vitamin deficiency; Womens health; Young Children
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-rcpch.447

AimsVitamin D deficiency in infancy can have significant consequences including rickets, hypocalcaemic seizures and cardiomyopathy. Such complications can be prevented by Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy, lactation and infancy. Recommendations about Vitamin D supplementation in this population are available within public and health domains- including guidance from Department of health1, NICE2,3 and RCPCH4. Despite this, in paediatric practice, we continue to see serious consequences of Vitamin D deficiency in infants.We aimed to qualitatively determine the awareness of Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy, lactation and infancy in postnatal women. We also sought to determine the source of information, proportion of women and babies on Vitamin D, type of supplements taken and number of healthcare contacts received. Information was collected on gestation at birth and any underlying health conditions in babies.MethodsWe used online survey platform, survey monkey to collect information. Links were distributed at 6 weeks postnatal checks. The purpose of the survey was explained clearly at the beginning of the survey questions. Participants were allowed to skip questions if they chose to. So all participants did not answer every question. Results analysed with help of survey platform tools.ResultsWe received 34 responses. The percentages described below are dependent on the number of responses (figure 1). Participants age range between 20-40 years. Majority (97%) belonged to white ethnic background. Awareness of importance of vitamin D in Pregnancy and in Baby was positive for 83% of respondents. Regarding adverse effects of extremely low vitamin D levels in babies. All respondents (100%) were aware about weak bones, 25% were aware about possibility of seizures and 20% aware about possibility of dilated cardiomyopathy. Out of those who answered, 67.8% had taken Vitamin D supplements daily during pregnancy and 25% did not take vitamin D supplements at all. 64.29% of the postnatal women were breast feeding and just over half of these women (57.89%) were taking Vitamin D supplements. 96% of the babies were term at birth, and 80% were discharged from a postnatal ward. No supplements were administered in 50% of babies. Reasons varied from personal choice, personal beliefs in diet and sunlight exposure to lack of awareness of importance of Vitamin D supplementation in babies.95.65% of babies did not have any underlying medical conditions, and 47.83% of