| dc.description.abstract | There are increased reported cases of rickets in Kenya coupled with scanty data on its
cause. This study was carried out to determine risk factors associated with rickets for
pediatric infants and children attending Maternal and Child Health clinic at Kiambu
district hospital. A cross sectional analytical survey design was used. Systematic
random sampling was used to select 377 infants and children in addition to their
mothers and care givers for data collection. Simple random sampling was used to
choose 39 subjects for dietary intake survey. Convenience sampling was used to select
nine health care providers. Data collected included demographic, social economic,
anthropometric, ';~etary, sun exposure practices, health seeking behaviour and
morbidity using structured and semi-structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed
using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17.0 and tested for significance at
p<.05. Chi square test was computed to study the relationships between categorical
variables and occurrence rickets. Means of dietary intake data between rachitic and
non rachitic subjects were compare using t-test. Odds ratio was computed to establish
the factor likely to contribute to rickets development in the study population. Rachitic
subjects had a mean.age of 13.8 months and birth weight of 3.07kg. It was found that
urban subjects were more likely to develop rickets than their rural counterparts.
Rickets was significantly related to urban (66.7%) than rural (33.3%) set ups at
p<0.002. Percent of underweight among rachitic subjects was 37.9%. Most frequently
consumed foods by rachitic subjects were fruits (95.9%), spinach (92.6%) and
unfermented porridge (88.5%). Rickets was more likely to develop in subjects
consuming spinach than those not consuming it. Dietary intake of vitamin D was
below recommendations ..F-ullydressing infants (32.4%) was more likely to predispose
them to rickets than partly Q.(fully undressing them (p<O.OO1). Rachitic subjects
(34.3%) were chronically suffering from respiratory tract infections. There was a
significant association between morbidity and occurrence of rickets (P<0.002). Rickets
was a disease of infancy and early childhood, associated with various factors. The
disease could be suspected in subjects living in urban areas and those suffering from
respiratory tract infections irrespective of gender, income, occupation or family size.
Child health care players should consider sun exposure awareness and rickets
screening plan on infants and children suffering from respiratory tract infections. | en_US |
