Vitamin D supplementation in Saudi Arabia: mothers' knowledge, practices, and attitudes

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 (p = 0.024); their age and practices towards VIT D and its supplements (p = 0.049); as well as their level of education, functional status, and attitudes towards VIT D (p = 0.037 and p = 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.