Risk Factor for Nutritional Rickets among 0-5 Years Children in Bangladesh

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Publication status: Published
Brief description: Nutritional rickets (NR)or vitamin D deficiency rickets remain prevalent in developing regions of the world and rank among the 5 most common diseases in children. In Bangladesh, it is the second most common micronutrient deficiency. Despite scope of abundant sun exposure, increasing number rickets incite the mind to search for the risk factors associated with it. Therefore, to evaluate the risk factor for nutritional rickets among 0-5 years children in Bangladesh was the objective of the study. This observational study was conducted in Dhaka Sishu (child) Hospital for 2-year period following formal ethical clearance. Total 120 children were include into the study. Of all, 60 children of NR were consideredas cases and another 60 age and sex matched children were taken as control. NR diagnosis was based on clinical, radiologic and biochemical parameters. In all cases, formal informed consent were taken from the parents. Detailed history taking were done based on a preformed questionnaire, which was made on the basis of prior studies in this topics. During interview, data collection was done in a separate case record form. Finally, recorded data was analyzed by a statistical software, SPSS 23. Among the 120 study children, mean age of cases and controls were 29.40±11.65 &28.66±13.57 months respectively. Significant difference were present in-between case and control for residence, parent’s education, occupation of the family head, monthly income and number of siblings. Moreover, exclusive breast-feeding (OR= 3.59, 95% CI:1.67-7.74, p<.001), sun exposure (OR=2.25, 95% CI:1.08-4.67, p<.03) and skin color (OR=2.76, 95% CI: 1.24-6.14, p<.01) were significantly associated with NR in comparison to control. Exclusive breast-feeding for >4 months, sunlight exposure <30 minutes/day, dark skin color, number of siblings, urban slum residence, deficit monthly income, and parent’s education are the risk factors for NR in Bangladeshi child.