title: Postpartum evaluation of vitamin D among a sample of Jordanian women.
abstract: The aims of this study were to explore the vitamin D status among a sample of Jordanian postpartum women and identify factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. A total of 171 postpartum women agreed to participate. Participants completed a questionnaire on factors related to vitamin D deficiency and provided a blood sample to assess their plasma vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels using DIA source Immuno-Assays S.A.
  
  
  METHODS
  The majority of women (76%, n = 130) had vitamin D deficiency and 24% (n = 41) of participants had vitamin D insufficiency. Factors associated with vitamin D deficiency were younger age (< 30 years), low education level, unemployment, multiparity, lactation, dress style, limited sunlight exposure, high BMI, dark skin colour and lack of multivitamin use. Vitamin D supplementation must be considered during pregnancy and lactation to prevent hypovitaminosis in both mother and baby.
authors.affiliation: a Maternal and Child Health and Midwifery Department, Faculty of Nursing , Jordan University of Science & Technology (JUST) , Irbid , Jordan.
authors.forename: Khitam I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.affiliation: a Maternal and Child Health and Midwifery Department, Faculty of Nursing , Jordan University of Science & Technology (JUST) , Irbid , Jordan.
authors.forename: Manal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kassab
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Nursing , Al al-Bayt University , Al-Mafraq , Jordan.
authors.forename: Insaf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shaban
authors.affiliation: c Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Debra K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Creedy
authors.affiliation: c Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gamble
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Vitamin D deficiency; breastfeeding; mothers; postpartum; sunlight