Background: In recent years, high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be common in different regions of the Middle East.
Aims: To explore the vitamin D status among reproductive age Jordanian women and identify factors associated with vitamin D deficiency.
Materials and Methods: A total of 171 women were included. Participants completed a questionnaire on factors related to vitamin D deficiencyand provided a blood sample to assess their plasma vitamin D (25OHD) levels using DIA source Immunoassay S.A analysis.
Results and Conclusions: The majority of women (76%, n = 130) had vitamin D deficiency and 24% (n = 41) of participants had vitamin D insufficiency. Factors associated with vitamin D deficiency were younger age (< 30 years), low education level, unemployment, dress style, limited sunlight exposure, high BMI, dark skin color, and lack of multivitamin use and There is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Jordanian women. The high prevalence highlights the necessity of vitamin supplementation and calls for action to build strategies for health promotion concerning vitamin D supplementation.
Biography: Khitam Mohammad is an Associate Professor of Midwifery Research and Practice at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan. She received her BSN Degree in 1997 from Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordon. Her first Master Degree was in Anthropology in 2003 from Al-Yarmouk University, Jordan and the Second Master Degree was in Midwifery in 2004 from Griffith University, Australia. In 2008, she completed her PhD in Midwifery from Griffith University, Australia. Her most important research interest area and one which has culminated in her PhD Thesis is on incidence and factors associated with postnatal depression among Jordanian Women. She is particularly interested in Women’s and Newborn's Health.