Abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is an important public health problem in Saudi Arabia. Exposure to sunlight has a great importance in this regard; because of its health effects on building of vitamin D and being the main source of vitamin D.
Objectives: To explore the knowledge, attitude and practice of sun exposure affecting vitamin D among adult male visitors of Primary Health Care Centers In Taif City.
Subjects and Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in Taif governorate in the western region of Saudi Arabia including a representative sample of adult male visitors older than 18 years attending primary health care centers (PHCCs) within the city limits of Taif governorate throughout the study period (January-February, 2018). A pre-designed Arabic self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection.
Results: The study included 354 males. More than one-third of them either aged between 25 and 39 years (40.3%) or between 40 and 60 years (34.2%). Most of them (76.3%) were Saudis. Majority of the participants (82.5%) have heard about vitamin D. The most frequent reported sources of awareness about vitamin D were friends/relatives (31.2%), physicians (29.5%), internet (27.4%) and TV (21.9%). Overall only 16.7% of the participants expressed sufficient knowledge regarding vitamin D. Majority of the participants (88.7%) agreed that vitamin D is important for their health. Majority of the participants were like to be exposed to sunlight either always (38.4%) or sometimes (41%) whereas only 4.8% avoided exposure to sunlight and 15.8% exposed to sunlight rarely. Regarding nationality, 11.9% of non-Saudi compared to only 2.6% of Saudis avoided exposure to sunlight, p=0.001. Regarding participants` educational level, 10.7% of illiterates compared to only 0.7% of university/above educated males avoided sunlight exposure, p=0.010. Overall adequate practice regarding sunlight exposure and vitamin D intake was observed among approximately two-thirds of the participants (66.4%).
Conclusions: Overall knowledge regarding vitamin D was insufficient. Attitude and practice of the participants regarding importance of vitamin D to health and sunlight exposure was adequate, particularly among Saudis, living in urban areas and high educated individuals.
Keywords: vitamin D, adult male, public health problem.
Title: Knowledge, Attitude And Practices Regarding Exposure To Sunlight And Its Effect On Vitamin ( D)Among Adult Male Visitors Of Primary Health Care Centers In Taif City , Saudi Arabia
Author: Dr. Hani Raddah Alsufyani, Dr. Abdullah Ahmed Albarqi
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Research Publish Journals
