What factors influences dietary and non-dietary vitamin D intake among pregnant women in an African population?

Abstract

Objective: Data on dietary vitamin D (vitD) intake, sunlight exposure, and the associated determinants are lacking in Africa. The aim of this study was to establish the factors influencing vitD intake and sun- light exposure among pregnant women in an African population with the goal of improving maternal vitD nutrition. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 703 mother–infant pairs ac- cessing postnatal care at the five main health facilities in Cape Coast, Ghana in 2016. Information on sociodemographic characteristics and sunlight exposure practices during pregnancy were collected using a structured questionnaire. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate vitD intake during pregnancy. Results: VitD nutrition awareness during pregnancy was low in the study area. Education, occupation, ethnicity, and marital status influenced vitD intake in this population. In a multivariable linear regres- sion adjusting for potential confounders, lack of information on essential nutrients needed in pregnancy, and infrequent consumption of recommended foods resulted in 10.51 μg (95% confidence interval [CI], −19.59 to −1.42) and 26.18 μg (95% CI, −47.18 to −5.17) reduction in vitD intake, respectively. Lack of in- formation on the importance of vitD in pregnancy, and on their dietary and non-dietary sources resulted in 11.76 μg (95% CI, −21.53 to −2.00) and 26.34 μg (95% CI, −52.47 to −0.21) reduction in vitD intake, re- spectively. Employment status of mothers was associated with statistically significant higher sunlight exposure. Conclusions: The study findings call for rolling out literacy and nutrition education programs targeted at women in sub-Saharan African countries to help improve maternal nutrition.