TITLE:
Sociodemographic Factors for Vitamin D Levels in Children with Acute Respiratory Infection
AUTHORS:
Esther Ngozi Umeadi, Sylvia Tochukwu Echendu, Chinyelu Uchenna Ufoaroh, Ernest Ndukaife Anyabolu, Ezinne Ifeyinwa Nwaneli, Wilson Chukwuneke Igwe, Chijioke E. Ezeudu, Ekene Agatha Emeka, Joy Chinelo Ebenebe, Ifeoma Egbuonu
KEYWORDS:
Vitamin D Deficiency, Under-Five Children, Acute Respiratory Infection, Gender
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.11 No.4,
December
15,
2021
ABSTRACT: Background and Objectives: Childhood acute respiratory infection is a public health problem with
significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The present study
was to assess the sociodemographic determinants of vitamin D levels in patient with
acute respiratory infections (ARIs) receiving care in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH),
Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study,
conducted in Nnewi, Nigeria, on 250 children with ARI. Sociodemographic data
were collected and serum vitamin D levels of the subjects were assayed. The
association between sociodemographic variables and vitamin D was evaluated
using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 250
children with ARI aged 1 - 59 months were enrolled in
this study, with slight male preponderance (57.2%). About 60% of the population
was less than 2 years. The
majority (85.6%) of the subjects had adequate vitamin D levels (≥20 ng/dL). The mean serum
vitamin D level in the subjects was (52.2 ± 25.6 ng/mL). Multivariate logistic
regression showed that only gender was significantly related to vitamin D
levels with males found to have a lower risk of vitamin D deficiency. {OR = 0.05 (0.004 - 0.77)}, p = 0.03. Conclusion: The association between male gender and high levels of vitamin D in acute
respiratory infection was significant in this study. Further studies, however,
should explore a probable role for vitamin D supplementation in children with
ARI.