What do urban and rural residents know about the importance of taking vitamin D (using the Astrakhan region as an example)

G.R. Sagitova, A.A. Antonova, O.V. Davydova, A.Yu. Zykova, V.M. Sereda

1) Astrakhan State Medical University, Astrakhan, Russia; 2) Children’s City Polyclinic No. 1, Astrakhan, Russia; 3) St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia

Background. Vitamin D deficiency is widespread throughout the world among people of all ages. In the Russian Federation, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the population exceeds 50%.
Objective. Comparative analysis of awareness among parents of children living in urban and rural areas about the need for vitamin D intake through an absentee survey.
Methods. The study involved 115 parents from Astrakhan (Group I) and 115 from the Astrakhan Region (Group II) with children aged 3 to 10 years.
Results. The study showed that most parents who participated in the survey were highly informed about vitamin D, but at the same time, the level of knowledge about its physiological role in the body was insufficient, which may be a factor contributing to the high incidence of vitamin D deficiency in the child population. Not all children received vitamin D supplements. At the same time, 15.6% (Group I) and 6.1% (Group II) of parents received vitamin D less than the recommended prophylactic dose, or an excessive dose in 4.3 and 1.6% of cases, respectively. Many parents were not focused on year-round intake of vitamin D.
Conclusion. The role of vitamin D in our body is extremely diverse. Vitamin D deficiency serves as a predictor of various abnormalities and pathological conditions. Timely detection and correction of vitamin D deficiency are a necessary condition for the normal functioning of the body. Thus, given that the most trusted source of information for parents is medical personnel, pediatricians need to continue and intensify the dissemination of information about vitamin D among the urban and rural population.

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About the Authors

Gulnara R. Sagitova, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor of the Department of Hospital Pediatrics and Neonatology, Astrakhan State Medical University, Astrakhan, Russia; sagitova-gulnara04@yandex.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8377-6212
Alena A. Antonova, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Department of Hospital Pediatrics and Neonatology, Astrakhan State Medical University, Astrakhan, Russia; fduecn-2010@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2581-0408 (corresponding author)
Oksana V. Davydova, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Hospital Pediatrics and Neonatology, Astrakhan State Medical University, Astrakhan, Russia; oksada2009@yandex.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5616-7342
Alla Yu. Zykova, pediatrician, emergency room, Children’s City Clinic No. 1, Astrakhan, Russia; alla.zykovva.97@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1932-9095
Vasily M. Sereda, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Professor of the Department of Social Pediatrics and Healthcare Organization, St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia; seredavm@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8593-8601

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