Abstract

Background: Rickets resulting from vitamin D deficiency is seen in infants and young children in many African countries including Ethiopia. Vitamin D deficiency due to low exposure to sun light, sub optimal exclusive breast feeding and low vitamin D intake is one of the health problems in Ethiopia. This study assessed the determinants of rickets in Yekatit 12 hospital Addis Ababa.

Methods: Facility based case control study was conducted among under five children at Yekatit 12 hospital, Addis Ababa, from November 2016-April 2018. A total of 270 (91 cases and 179 controls) were included in the study. Medical records of cases and controls were revised for anthropometric measurement, clinical signs of rickets and radiologic evidence. Additinal information about the study participants was obtained from care givers through questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.00. The association between dependent and independent variables were assessed by multiple logistic regressions. Factors with P-value <0.05 were taken as statistically significant.

Results: A total of 270 under five children were enrolled in the study, 91 were cases and 179 were controls and the response rate was 92%. Significant variables associated with rickets were children who exposed to sunlight more than 30 minutes per day (AOR=7.7,95% CI 1.95-30.72),children who were not exposed to direct exposure to sun light (AOR=3.99,95% CI 1.33-11.98), children with applied baby oil before sun exposure (AOR=10.6,95%CI 3.76-30.138), children who had dark brown skin (AOR=18.7, 95%CL 3.3-106.3), children with age group of 12-23 months (OR=4.9 95%CI 1.57-15.45) and mother whose occupational status of house wife (AOR=6.47 95%CI 1.04-40.11) identified factors.

Conclusion: This study showed that sun exposure is significantly associated with rickets. Duration of sun exposure per minutes, direct exposure, application of baby oil, skin color of the baby and occupational status of the mother were significantly associated. Health education should be given to increase awareness about sun exposure and on the proper techniques of sun exposure.

Keywords: Rickets; Vitamin D; Sun Exposure