Positive impact on vitamin D related lifestyle of medical advice in pregnant Somali-born women and new mothers: a mixed method study in Swedish primary care

BMC Public Health

N. Rodhe¹  P. Kalliokoski¹  M. Löfvander²  M. Widarsson³ 

[1] Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine Section, Uppsala University, Postal address: Box 564, Husargatan 3, 751 22, Uppsala, Sweden;Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine Section, Uppsala University, Postal address: Box 564, Husargatan 3, 751 22, Uppsala, Sweden;Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Västerås, Sweden;School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden;

关键词: Mixed method;    Lifestyle;    Prevention;    Primary care;    Public health;    Somalia;    Transcultural consultation;    Vitamin D;    Women;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-021-10277-y

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundA previous study showed that pregnant women/new mothers especially Somali-born and some Swedish-born had extremely low vitamin D levels and poor physical performance. Our study aimed to examine vitamin D related lifestyle, attitudes and behaviour before and after brief information about vitamin D, with special long-term focus on Somali-born women.MethodsA cohort of 91 pregnant women/new mothers having serum hydroxyvitamin D (S-25-OHD) ≤ 50 nmol/L (n = 51 Somali-born with one third < 10 nmol/L of S-25-OHD) in primary health care in Sweden was targeted for intervention. Brief individual oral and visual information on vitamin D was given by doctors at baseline and after four and ten months. Questionnaires with ordinal scales on vitamin D related lifestyle of food, clothing, and outdoor activities were distributed on all occasions. Focus-group interviews with 15 women from the target-group were performed after two years. A Somali interpreter was available.ResultsVeiled clothing, indoor living, and a low intake of milk, cheese, and fatty fish were common in the target group. Consumption pattern had increased significantly among the Somali-born women at the four-month follow-up but declined to non-significant levels at the ten-month follow-up. The focus-group interviews showed improved understanding of vitamin D deficiency, symptoms and attitudes, but varying applied behaviours related to sun exposure. Sun exposure for the children and increased fish consumption was the most evident positive results.ConclusionsVitamin D related lifestyle, attitudes and behaviour improved in a Somali-born group of pregnant women/new mothers with severe vitamin D deficiency. The preventive measures suggested in our study may have impact on public health in relation to bone and muscle strength and immunity especially in vitamin D deficiency risk groups.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02922803. Date of registration: 28 September 2016.

【 授权许可】

CC BY