Knowledge and Practice of Female Students Regarding Vitamin D Deficiency

Abstract

Background: Many studies evidenced that Vitamin D is an essential for good health especially it is associated
with bone development. The deficiency usually may cause osteoporosis, muscle cramps and back pain.
Objectives: The study aimed to determine the knowledge and the practices regarding vitamin D deficiency
among the female students and associate the knowledge and selected demographic variables and correlate
knowledge with the practice.
Method: In descriptive research design, a cross sectional survey approach was used. Totally 190 students
were selected randomly from King Faisal University who met inclusion criteria. The data was collected by
using structured questionnaire for assessing knowledge and checklist for practice.
Results: Among 190 female students, many 62(32.6%) were in the age group of 20 and above. Majority of
them 77(40.5%) were at final year, and 87(45.8%) were married. Regarding the overall level of knowledge
97(51.1%) were having poor knowledge. About the practice, 80% of the students never had exposure to
sunlight, 93.7% never engaged in outdoor physical activities. There was no significant association between
knowledge and the selected demographic variables at the level of P<0.05. There was significant correlation
between knowledge and their practices regarding the expose to sun light daily, engage in outdoor physical
activities and wear abaya with niqab at p <0.001.
Conclusion: Most of the female students were unaware of vitamin D sources and preventive measures of
its deficiency. Hence, the study recommends that, there should be more emphasis on awareness to improve
knowledge and practices regarding vitamin D deficiency.
Keywords: Vitamin D, Deficiency, Knowledge, Practice,