Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the frequency and association of risk factors with nutritional rickets among children aged 2-24 months.
Methodology: In this cross-sectional analytical study, 145 children aged 2-24 months of both genders were conveniently enrolled from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore during April to September 2023. Interviewer-administered close-ended proforma were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.26. Crosstabs analysis is used for odds ratios with 95% CI and binary logistic regression for adjusted odds with 95% CI.
Results: Among 113 participants, 69 (61.1%) were males and 44 (38.9%) females. Mean age was 11.41±7.09 months. Nutritional rickets was found in 38 (33.6%), vitamin D deficiency in 70 (61.9%), and hypocalcemia in 94 (83.2%) patients. Among risk factors, exclusive breastfeeding (aOR=2.299), no use of fortified milk (aOR=1.722), and sunlight exposure for 0.05). However, lack of sunlight exposure (aOR=5.848; p=0.033) and malnutrition in children (aOR=2.648; p=0.054) demonstrated higher odds and significant association with nutritional rickets.
Conclusion: Frequency of nutritional rickets was high among children 2-24 months in our setting. Lack of sunlight exposure, malnutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, and no use of fortified milk were higher risk for nutritional rickets.

Key words: Child, prevalence, Pakistan, rickets, risk factors, Vitamin D.