title: Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Burka-clad Pregnant Women in a 450-Bedded Maternity Hospital of Delhi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in burka-clad pregnant women and to study feto-maternal outcome in these women.
  
  
  METHODS
  200 pregnant burka-clad women of 18-40-year age group irrespective of the period of gestation were recruited from the ANC OPD/ward of Kasturba hospital, and their vitamin D levels were estimated. Patients were categorized into vitamin D deficient, vitamin D inadequate, and vitamin D adequate according to The Endocrine Society Guidelines. The association of vitamin D deficiency with dietary/environmental factors was taken note of. Associations with preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), low birth weight (LBW), prematurity, APGAR score, and NICU admission were also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  78 patients (39.0 %) were vitamin D inadequate; 75 patients (37.5 %) were vitamin D deficient; and 47(23.5 %) were vitamin D adequate. Mean value of vitamin D level was 23.25 ng/ml ± 18.49 (SD). Fifteen patients (7.5 %) developed preeclampsia, and all 15 were vitamin D deficient; 13 (6.5 %) developed GDM; and only 5 (2.5 %) of them were vitamin D deficient. 19 patients (9.5 %) delivered LBW babies; mothers of 15 (7.5 %) of them were vitamin D deficient. 12 patients (6.0 %) delivered premature babies, and mothers of 4 (2 %) were vitamin D deficient; 12 babies had APGAR score <7 at 5 min; mothers of 4 (2.0 %) were vitamin D deficient. Babies of 12 patients (6 %) were admitted in NICU, and of these 12 babies, mothers of 5 (2.5 %) were vitamin D deficient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was high among burka-clad pregnant women, and it is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Routine screening of vitamin D levels is recommended in burka-clad women to improve the feto-maternal outcome.
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Hospital, Daryaganj, New Delhi, 110002 India.
authors.forename: Sangita Nangia
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Ajmani
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Hospital, Daryaganj, New Delhi, 110002 India.
authors.forename: Mohini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Hospital, Daryaganj, New Delhi, 110002 India.
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, B L K Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ajmani
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Hospital, Daryaganj, New Delhi, 110002 India.
authors.forename: Namrta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yadav
keywords: Gestational diabetes mellitus; Low-birth weight; Preeclampsia; Vitamin D deficiency