Prevalence and Risk Factors of Vitamin D Deficiency among a sample of Kuwaiti population : A sociocultural Study

Abstract

Despite the high amount of sunshine that Kuwaitis can receive from sunlight in the summer months, there is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Kuwaiti individuals .This descriptive study aimed to  determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and related  sociocultural and daily life behavior risk factors among 276 Kuwaiti adults based on their blood serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D levels. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a closed-ended questionnaire ; subjects were selected by using a convenient non-random opportunistic sample. The mean vitamin D 25(OH)D level of the participants was 23.44 nmol/L (SD = 10.89).  The social demographic factors that were significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency were {sex (P < .05), age, monthly income, marital status, and occupational status (P < .01) }.Participants' daily lifestyle behaviors risk factors that were significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency were{working environment , smoking habit ,  fast-food consumption , taking supplements (P < .05), and clothing style (P < .001) }.The present study demonstrates that vitamin D deficiency is common among Kuwaiti adults identifies many sociocultural risk factors. Continued effort to increase knowledge and awareness of vitamin D deficiency risk factors and health outcomes is needed through intensive educational programs.