Evaluating knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D in pregnant and postnatal Ghanaian women: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maternal and foetal health during pregnancy and lactation. However, its deficiency remains prevalent among pregnant and post-natal women globally, potentially leading to adverse health outcomes. We assessed and compared the knowledge, awareness,...
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2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23986-5 |
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| author | Benedicta Appiah Alfred Effah Samuel Ankomah Danso Abraham Ameyaw Kwabena Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo Samuel Kwarteng Bismark Opoku Mensah Ebenezer Senu Enoch Ofori Awuah Linda Ahenkorah Fondjo |
| author_facet | Benedicta Appiah Alfred Effah Samuel Ankomah Danso Abraham Ameyaw Kwabena Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo Samuel Kwarteng Bismark Opoku Mensah Ebenezer Senu Enoch Ofori Awuah Linda Ahenkorah Fondjo |
| author_sort | Benedicta Appiah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maternal and foetal health during pregnancy and lactation. However, its deficiency remains prevalent among pregnant and post-natal women globally, potentially leading to adverse health outcomes. We assessed and compared the knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D among pregnant and postnatal women in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 310 pregnant women and postnatal women from a Municipal Hospital between January to August 2024. A well-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on demographic, clinical and lifestyle characteristics of participants. Information on awareness, knowledge, attitude and practices regarding vitamin D were also obtained. The binary logistic regression analysis model was used to determine the independent predictors of awareness and knowledge. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Most pregnant women (82%) were aware of vitamin D, compared to postnatal women (71.1%). Pregnant women also showed higher knowledge levels (62% vs. 50.3%). Nearly all postnatal women (100%) and pregnant women (98.1%) had positive attitudes toward vitamin D, with comparable good practices (88.8% for pregnant, 89.9% for postnatal). Having non-formal education [(aOR = 17.639, 95% CI (3.218–96.686), p = 0.001)] or basic education [(aOR = 24.956, 95% CI (6.084-102.366), p < 0.001)] was significantly associated with increased odds of non-awareness. Moreover, having basic education [(aOR = 20.946, 95% CI (6.264–70.042), p < 0.001)] or SHS education [(aOR = 2.725, 95% CI (1.160–6.402), p = 0.021)] were the independent predictors of poor knowledge regarding vitamin D. Conclusion Awareness and knowledge of vitamin D were higher among pregnant women compared to postnatal women, with educational level being a significant predictor. Future interventions should prioritize education on the importance of vitamin D, appropriate sun exposure, and dietary sources to mitigate deficiency risks, associated complications, and improve maternal health outcomes during and after pregnancy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-647752afffa2491fb8df06005c9ac317 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-647752afffa2491fb8df06005c9ac3172025-08-20T03:46:23ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-08-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-23986-5Evaluating knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D in pregnant and postnatal Ghanaian women: a cross-sectional studyBenedicta Appiah0Alfred Effah1Samuel Ankomah Danso2Abraham Ameyaw Kwabena3Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo4Samuel Kwarteng5Bismark Opoku Mensah6Ebenezer Senu7Enoch Ofori Awuah8Linda Ahenkorah Fondjo9Department of Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of WorcesterDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maternal and foetal health during pregnancy and lactation. However, its deficiency remains prevalent among pregnant and post-natal women globally, potentially leading to adverse health outcomes. We assessed and compared the knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D among pregnant and postnatal women in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 310 pregnant women and postnatal women from a Municipal Hospital between January to August 2024. A well-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on demographic, clinical and lifestyle characteristics of participants. Information on awareness, knowledge, attitude and practices regarding vitamin D were also obtained. The binary logistic regression analysis model was used to determine the independent predictors of awareness and knowledge. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Most pregnant women (82%) were aware of vitamin D, compared to postnatal women (71.1%). Pregnant women also showed higher knowledge levels (62% vs. 50.3%). Nearly all postnatal women (100%) and pregnant women (98.1%) had positive attitudes toward vitamin D, with comparable good practices (88.8% for pregnant, 89.9% for postnatal). Having non-formal education [(aOR = 17.639, 95% CI (3.218–96.686), p = 0.001)] or basic education [(aOR = 24.956, 95% CI (6.084-102.366), p < 0.001)] was significantly associated with increased odds of non-awareness. Moreover, having basic education [(aOR = 20.946, 95% CI (6.264–70.042), p < 0.001)] or SHS education [(aOR = 2.725, 95% CI (1.160–6.402), p = 0.021)] were the independent predictors of poor knowledge regarding vitamin D. Conclusion Awareness and knowledge of vitamin D were higher among pregnant women compared to postnatal women, with educational level being a significant predictor. Future interventions should prioritize education on the importance of vitamin D, appropriate sun exposure, and dietary sources to mitigate deficiency risks, associated complications, and improve maternal health outcomes during and after pregnancy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23986-5Vitamin DPregnancyAwarenessKnowledgeAttitudePractices |
| spellingShingle | Benedicta Appiah Alfred Effah Samuel Ankomah Danso Abraham Ameyaw Kwabena Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo Samuel Kwarteng Bismark Opoku Mensah Ebenezer Senu Enoch Ofori Awuah Linda Ahenkorah Fondjo Evaluating knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D in pregnant and postnatal Ghanaian women: a cross-sectional study BMC Public Health Vitamin D Pregnancy Awareness Knowledge Attitude Practices |
| title | Evaluating knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D in pregnant and postnatal Ghanaian women: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Evaluating knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D in pregnant and postnatal Ghanaian women: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D in pregnant and postnatal Ghanaian women: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D in pregnant and postnatal Ghanaian women: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Evaluating knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding vitamin D in pregnant and postnatal Ghanaian women: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | evaluating knowledge awareness attitudes and practices regarding vitamin d in pregnant and postnatal ghanaian women a cross sectional study |
| topic | Vitamin D Pregnancy Awareness Knowledge Attitude Practices |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23986-5 |
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