Associations Between Maternal Nutrition Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Rickets in Children in Xinjiang Province, People's Republic of China.

ABSTRACT

We explored the association between maternal nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) values in children with rickets in Xinjiang, People's Republic of China. We recruited 514 mothers with children (<2 years) from pediatric outpatient departments. We determined general status of families, maternal nutrition KAP, and 25(OH)D values in 212 children with rickets, with doctors using "Prevention and Treatment Program for Infant and Young Children Rickets" and "Application Guideline for Vitamin D and Bone Health in Adult Chinese (2014 Standard Edition)" to identify. We then assessed the associations between nutrition KAP and 25(OH)D values. The 25(OH)D values were positively correlated with maternal nutrition KAP scores. Factors influencing rickets included per-capita monthly dietary expenditure and spousal education level. Factors associated with nutrition practice included maternal education level, gestational vitamin D level, and nutrition knowledge. Augmented maternal nutrition KAP may improve 25(OH)D levels in children with rickets to a normal range.