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Background:
Vitamin D is a major problem that the world is facing today, Vitamin D can be obtained through sunlight exposure and certain foods, fatty fish, egg yolk and fortified foods being good sources. Sunlight exposure is the primary source for many, as the skin synthesizes vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Ethiopia is among the few countries in the world having 13 months of sunshine. On the contrary to this many infants and mothers are being affected by vitamin d deficiency and its complications.
Objectives: Study aims to identify the practice level and factors associated with sunlight exposure of infants by mothers visiting Menilik 2nd Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2025.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 486 mothers from February 15 to April 5, 2025. Mothers with children aged less than one year visiting the EPI unit and the pediatrics outpatient department were study participants. Data was collected from mothers using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. The collected data was entered into a computer using the software Google Form and was exported to SPSS version 23 for statistical analysis. Logistic regression analysis was done and statistical association was declared at a p-value < 5% and a95% confidence interval (CI). Then the results are presented using tables, figures, and description.
Results: In this study 486 study participants were involved making a response rate of 100%. In this study only 30% of the mother had good practice of sunlight exposure of the infants. The multivariate logistic regression revealed that maternal educational level (AOR=3.3, 95%CI=1.71, 15.63), having ANC follow up (AOR=1.9, 95%CI=1.05, 3.50) and having good perceived social support (AOR=3.8, 95%CI=2.16, 6.62) were significantly positively associated with practice of infant sunlight exposure. Whereas maternal occupation (AOR=0.45, 95%CI=0.01, 0.68) is associated with practice of infant sunlight exposure with daily laborers being less likely to practice infant sunlight exposure.
Conclusion
In this study 486 study participants were involved making a response rate of 100%. In this study only 30% of the mother had adequate practice of sunlight exposure of the infants and 99.8% of respondents were not using vitamin d supplement for their infant. The multivariate logistic regression revealed that maternal educational level (AOR=3.3, 95%CI=1.71, 15.63), maternal occupation (AOR=0.45, 95%CI=0.01, 0.68), having ANC follow up (AOR=1.9, 95%CI=1.05, 3.50) and having good perceived social support (AOR=3.8, 95%CI=2.16, 6.62) were significantly associated with practice of infant sunlight exposure. |
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