VITAMIN D STATUS, KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE AMONG SAUDI FEMALES STUDENTS IN HAIL

Background: Vitamin D deficiency which known as hypovitaminosis D is more serious problem. It is currently estimated that one billion peoplesuffer from vitamin D deficiency worldwide. Vitamin D innowadays one of the most important topics inresearch and clinics and the cause of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabian female student could be related to many reasons. Objectives: the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of Saudi female students about vitamin D deficiency. Methods: This study used a descriptive cross-sectional design to assess the knowledge and practice of Saudi female about vitamin D deficiency. The number of responders from secondary school is 340 and from university students are 467, total of 807 female students. The questionnaire used consists of 17 closed questions, arranged in 4 subscales. It includes two questions about the demographic characteristics; six questions about knowledge about vitamin D deficiency or increment, source of knowledge, four questions for knowledge about food rich in vitamin D, the relationship between vitamin D and calcium in the body, vitamin D deficiency causing tiredness, low mood and muscle and bone pain and the last five questions about suffering from diseases in the bones, expose of face, arms and legs to the sun, and finally if the females pregnant or lactating mothers and have vitamin D deficiency. Results: For secondary school students, showed that most of participants (72.1%) have good knowledge about vitamin D deficiency compared to university students (78.6%). The source of knowledge about vitamin D deficiency varied, most from social media (19.4% Vs24.4%), most of participants don?t know the true level of blood vitamin D (60%Vs 52.9%) for secondary school and University students respectively. About 67.6% vs 35.8% % know the dangerous of vitamin D deficiency and 18.8 % Vs 40.9% know the dangerous of vitamin D increment, and 38.5% Vs 25.1% receive vitamin D without prescription for secondary school and University students respectively. About 69.7% Vs 77.9% not suffered from bone diseases, while (12.9% Vs 9.4% suffered from arthiritis), (7.9% Vs 5.8% suffered from osteomalacia) and (9.4% Vs 6.9% suffered from osteoporosis) and about 45.9% Vs 43.3% don?t expose to sun for secondary school & university students respectively. Conclusion: Most of students either in secondary school or university, their knowledge about vitamin D is little and some of them suffer from bone diseases while they are still young and did not expose to sun. Recommendations: Health awareness campaigns should be held to give advises to students in all stages about the importance of vitamin D and how they can protect themselves from its defeciency by eating healthy foods rich with vitamin D. Also advised them to be exposed to sun rayes at the suitable times and did not take vitamin D without needs or without priscription.