The State of Vitamin D Supplement Use and Knowledge Levels of Mothers With 0-12 Month-Old Infants

English (OpenAlex)

Aim: This study aimed to understand the knowledge and awareness of mothers about vitamin D and to observe their practices regarding the use of vitamin D for themselves during pregnancy and for their infants after birth. Material and Method: This descriptive study was conducted between July and November 2021 with a total of 818 mothers between the ages of 18 and 48 with 0-12 months old infants via a web-based survey. Results: The majority of mothers were between the ages of 25 and 29 and had a university degree (40.2% and 52.3%, respectively). 65.6% of the mothers stated that they used vitamin D supplements during pregnancy. Most of the infants were given vitamin D supplementation immediately or within 15 days after birth. 91.9% were still using vitamin D supplements daily (3.3 ± 1.30 drops). The majority of mothers had sufficient knowledge about the functions of vitamin D and the diseases that can occur in its deficiency. Conclusion: This study shows that most mothers comply with the time and amount of vitamin D use recommended for themselves and their infants in "Vitamin D Supplementation Programs", and that they are well-informed about vitamin D supplementation.