Alharbi Hanan F, Rezq Khulud Ahmad
Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Department, College of Nursing, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Community and Psychiatric Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
PeerJ. 2025 Aug 28;13:e19781. doi: 10.7717/peerj.19781. eCollection 2025.
Despite abundant sunshine, vitamin D (VIT D) deficiency remains prevalent in tropical regions such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), largely due to limited dietary intake and sun exposure restrictions. This study evaluated mothers' perceptions of VIT D supplementation for them and their children in KSA.
This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in KSA among mothers aged 18 and older with children under five years old. A convenience sampling method was employed to recruit participants in the study in the period from 31 July to 2 October 2022. The data were collected by developed questionnaire which was distributed to participants via WhatsApp and Facebook. The data were analyzed using an SPSS program with both descriptive and inferential statistical methods.
A total of 200 mothers participated, with a mean age (SD) of 35.48 (6.9) years. Among them, 66.40% had poor knowledge of VIT D and its supplementation, while 33.60% demonstrated good knowledge. Regarding practices, only 22.95% of mothers reported good practices, 43.85% reported fair practices, and 33.20% reported poor practices. However, most mothers (95%) demonstrated a favorable attitude toward VIT D and its supplementation, and only 5% of them showed a negative attitude. Notably, significant correlations were observed between mothers' salaries and their familiarity with VIT D ( = 0.024); their age and practices towards VIT D and its supplements ( = 0.049); as well as their level of education, functional status, and attitudes towards VIT D ( = 0.037 and = 0.008, respectively).
The findings indicate that a significant proportion of mothers had poor knowledge and inadequate practices regarding VIT D and its supplementation, despite their generally positive attitudes. These results underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance knowledge and practices, considering socio-economic factors and educational background.
尽管沙特阿拉伯王国等热带地区阳光充足，但维生素D（VIT D）缺乏仍然普遍存在，这主要是由于饮食摄入有限和阳光照射限制。本研究评估了沙特阿拉伯母亲们对自身及子女补充VIT D的认知情况。
本观察性横断面研究在沙特阿拉伯对18岁及以上且子女未满5岁的母亲进行。于2022年7月31日至10月2日期间采用便利抽样法招募研究参与者。通过编制的问卷收集数据，问卷通过WhatsApp和Facebook分发给参与者。使用SPSS程序采用描述性和推断性统计方法对数据进行分析。
共有200名母亲参与，平均年龄（标准差）为35.48（6.9）岁。其中，66.40%的母亲对VIT D及其补充知识了解不足，而33.60%的母亲知识掌握良好。在实践方面，只有22.95%的母亲报告实践良好，43.85%的母亲报告实践一般，33.20%的母亲报告实践较差。然而，大多数母亲（95%）对VIT D及其补充持积极态度，只有5%的母亲持消极态度。值得注意的是，观察到母亲的工资与其对VIT D的熟悉程度之间存在显著相关性（=0.024）；她们的年龄与对VIT D及其补充剂的实践之间存在显著相关性（=0.049）；以及她们的教育水平、功能状态和对VIT D的态度之间存在显著相关性（分别为=0.037和=0.008）。
研究结果表明，尽管母亲们总体态度积极，但很大一部分母亲对VIT D及其补充的知识了解不足且实践不够。这些结果强调了考虑社会经济因素和教育背景进行有针对性干预以提高知识和实践水平的必要性。
