{
  "abstract": "Objective Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a global health concern, contributing to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Despite its importance, limited data exist on vitamin D status and its determinants among pregnant women in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women in their first and second trimesters in Gondar Town, Ethiopia, 2024.Design and setting A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the antenatal care unit of University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from January to March 2024.Methods Eligible participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Sociodemographic, behavioural and clinical data were collected through structured questionnaires and medical record reviews. Serum levels of vitamin D, calcium and alkaline phosphatase were analysed using the Beckman Coulter clinical chemistry analyser. Statistical comparisons between pregnant women in the first and second trimesters were performed using the independent t-test. Determinants of vitamin D deficiency were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Participants 384 pregnant women in their first or second trimester.Results The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was 41.41%, while 84.11% of pregnant women had vitamin D insufficiency (<30 ng/mL). No statistically significant difference in the prevalence of both vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was observed among pregnant women in their first and second trimesters. Lower frequency of outdoor activity (adjusted OR (AOR) 8.94, 95% CI 2.76 to 28.89), elevated diastolic blood pressure (>90 mm Hg) (AOR 0.28, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.70), lower dietary diversity (AOR 3.17, 95% CI 1.13 to 8.89), lower fish and fish oil consumption habit (AOR 3.01, 95% CI 1.03 to 8.77; AOR 12.27, 95% CI 1.50 to 100.42) were the key predictors associated with serum vitamin D defiency.Conclusion and recommendation Nearly half of the pregnant women in Gondar Town exhibit vitamin D deficiency, showing a challenging public health concern. Thus, targeted interventions, such as dietary supplementation and lifestyle modifications, are urgently needed to address the problem and improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Elias Chane"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Hematology and Immunohematology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Bisrat Birke Teketelew"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Hematology and Immunohematology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Dereje Mengesha Berta"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Hematology and Immunohematology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Muluken Walle"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Abiy Ayele Angelo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Quality Assurance and Laboratory Management, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Negesse Cherie"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Mebratu Tamir"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Zufan Yiheyis Abriham"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Getachew Bitew"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia"
      ],
      "name": "Amare Mekuanint"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Prevalence and determinants of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women in Gondar Town 2024: a cross-sectional study from the first and second trimesters",
  "uid": "da9ecde8-165a-51a7-a7e7-87898838202b"
}