impact of dietary intake and sun exposure on vitamin D deficiency among couples

The main sources of vitamin D are sun exposure and diet. There is a gap in our knowledge about the contribution of these factors to vitamin D level among couples in Bahrain. To determine vitamin D dietary intake and sun exposure and their impact on vitamin D level. Cross-sectional study. Maternity hospitals. Data were collected using an adapted pre-validated food frequency questionnaire. It was adjusted to reflect the local food items. Vitamin D intake below 600 IU was considered low. The level was assayed as 25[OH]D using chemiluminescence method. SPSS-20 was used for data analysis. P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Three hundred and twenty five couples were included in the study. The mean dietary intake of vitamin D was low, but not significantly different between men and women. Vitamin D level was <50 nmol/L in 209 [64.3%] men and 292 [89.8%] women. The mean 25[OH]D level in males [46.06 +/- 12.97 nmol/L] was significantly higher than females [33.12 +/- 13.48 nmol/L]. There was a significant association between dietary intake and 25[OH]D levels in both men and women. Sun exposure was also found to be significantly associated with 25[OH]D level in males but not in females which is attributed to the use of veil. Low vitamin D intake and inadequate sun exposure lead to hypovitaminosis D. There is a need to increase awareness and mandate the fortification of milk, dairy products and to supplement veiled women and those at risk of deficiency with vitamin D

Prevalence and risk factors of vitamin D deficiency among men

Vitamin D is vital for human health but its deficiency is worldwide. There is a gap in our knowledge about vitamin D status in Bahrain. To identify vitamin D status and associated risk factors among men in Bahrain. A cross-sectional study. Four public and four private maternity hospitals in Bahrain. The study was carried out in the second and third weeks of April 2012. Three hundred sixty-four men [husbands of mothers who presented in labor] participated in the study. A questionnaire was administered and vitamin D level was measured in the blood. Bivariate and multiple linear regression analysis were used to evaluate differences between variables. P-value <0.05 was considered significant. The mean age +/- SD was 34.40 +/- 7.27 years. Vitamin D mean level +/- SD was 46.14 +/- 12.80 nmol/L. Vitamin D level was <50 nmol/L in 233 [64%] men. The following variables showed significant association with vitamin D deficiency: high income [P-value 0.020], smoking [P-value 0.021], lack of sun exposure [P-value 0.001] and high body mass index [P-value 0.022]. Vitamin D deficiency is common among men in Bahrain. High income, lack of sun exposure and high BMI were significant and independent predictors of low vitamin D level. There is a need for population-based study in a randomly selected sample which includes all age groups and both genders

Prevalence and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency among mothers in labor and their newborns

Vitamin D deficiency is recognized as a global public health problem. Studies of vitamin D levels in mothers in labor and their newborns in Bahrain are lacking. The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence of vitamin D [25[OH]D] deficiency among mothers in labor and their newborns in Bahrain. A cross-sectional multicenter study. Four Public and Four Private Maternity Hospitals in Bahrain. The study was conducted in April 2012. It included mothers in labor and their newborns. Differences between the subgroups were analyzed using Chi-Square or Student's t-test as appropriate. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate independent predictors of 25[OH]D level. The study included 403 mothers and 403 newborns. Overall prevalence of 25[OH]D deficiency [<50 nmol] was 358 [88.8%] of the mothers and 364 [90.3%] of the newborns. The mean maternal alkaline phosphatase level was significantly higher than the neonatal level and the maternal mean calcium was significantly lower than the neonatal level. Significant association with vitamin D deficiency was found among Bahraini and non-Bahraini Arab mothers, delivering in public rather than private hospital, living in flats, low education, the use of veil, gravida >/= 4, not using multivitamins, vitamin D or calcium supplements. Vitamin D deficiency among mothers and their newborns is high. This mandates increasing awareness, vitamin D supplementation among mothers in labor and their infants; in addition to the introduction of vitamin D fortification of dairy products and flour at the national level

Reported child sexual abuse in Bahrain: 2000-2009

Child sexual abuse [CSA] is a common problem with severe short and long-term consequences to the abused child, the family and to society. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of CSA, and demographic and other characteristics of the abused and their families. Retrospective and descriptive study based on a review of medical records of CSA cases from 2000-2009 at Sulmaniya Medical Complex, the main secondary and tertiary medical care facility in Bahrain. The review included demographic data, child and family characteristics, manifestations and interventions. The 440 children diagnosed with CSA had a mean age of 8 years [range, 9 months to 17 years]; 222 were males [50.5%] and 218 were females [49.5%]. There was a steady increase in cases from 31 per year in 2000 to 77 cases in 2009. Children disclosed abuse in 26% of cases, while health sector professionals recognized 53% of the cases. Genital touching and fondling [62.5%] were the most common form of CSA, followed by sodomy in 39%. Gonorrhea was documented in 2% of the cases and pregnancy in 4% of the females. The illiteracy rate among the fathers and mothers was 9% and 12%, respectively, which is higher than the rate among the adult general population. Children came from all socio-economic classes. There was referral to police in 56%, public prosecution in 31% of the cases, but only 8% reached the court. During ten years there has been a 2.5% increase in reported cases of CSA. Improving the skill of professionals in identifying CSA indicators and a mandatory reporting law might be needed to improve the rate of recognition and referral of CSA cases. Further general population-based surveys are needed to determine more accurately the scope of CSA and the risk and protective factors in the family and community