Vitamin D related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors among ethnic minority women

Abstract

Abstract Background Vitamin D (VD) deficiency may increase the risk of developing nutritional rickets, metabolic, autoimmune, infectious, cardiovascular and mental disorders. VD status in reproductive age is of special importance, as it may determine health outcomes not only for women but also for their offspring. Danish health authorities recommend VD supplementation for groups at risk of VD deficiency. In Nordic countries, persistent high prevalence of VD deficiency among non-Western ethnic minority women suggests that health information may not reach the population in need. Aim to assess VD related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors among non-Western ethnic minority women living in Denmark in 2019. Methods A validated VD knowledge, attitudes and behaviors questionnaire was translated into Danish, piloted and distributed via relevant Facebook groups using online SurveyXact platform. The responses were analyzed with SPSS statistical package, using both parametric and non-parametric tests for bivariate analyses. Results 254 women who considered themselves having a non-Western ethnic minority background answered the questionnaire. Median age (IQR) was 26 (23-33) year old; 81 (39%) had professional, 71 (28%) high school and 56 (22%) university education. Age was associated with VD nutrition knowledge (p = 0.048) and VD behaviors (p = 0.026): older women had better knowledge about VD rich nutrition and reported more VD friendly behavior. Education was associated with both VD general (p = 0.034) and VD nutrition (p = 0.034) knowledge. Women with university education had better knowledge about VD generally, and women with professional education had better knowledge about VD rich nutrition. Conclusions Aged and education were associated with VD related knowledge and behaviors in young women with non-Western ethnic minority women. Further examining of VD related knowledge and behaviors focusing among less populations is warranted. Key messages Education was associated with both vitamin D general (p = 0.034) and vitamin D nutrition (p = 0.034) knowledge. Aged and education were associated with vitamin D related knowledge and behaviors in young women with non-Western ethnic minority women.