Improving Vitamin D Intake in Young Children—Can an Infographic Help Parents and Carers Understand the Recommendations?

Vitamin D deficiency is a serious public health issue in the United Kingdom. Those at increased risk, such as pregnant women, children under 5 years and people from ethnic groups with dark skin, are not all achieving their recommended vitamin D. Effective vitamin D education is warranted. A qualitat...

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Main Authors: Ailsa Brogan-Hewitt, Tanefa A Apekey, Meaghan Sarah Christian, Rhiannon Eleanor Day
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:Nutrients
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/9/3140
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author Ailsa Brogan-Hewitt
Tanefa A Apekey
Meaghan Sarah Christian
Rhiannon Eleanor Day
author_facet Ailsa Brogan-Hewitt
Tanefa A Apekey
Meaghan Sarah Christian
Rhiannon Eleanor Day
author_sort Ailsa Brogan-Hewitt
collection DOAJ
description Vitamin D deficiency is a serious public health issue in the United Kingdom. Those at increased risk, such as pregnant women, children under 5 years and people from ethnic groups with dark skin, are not all achieving their recommended vitamin D. Effective vitamin D education is warranted. A qualitative study was undertaken to evaluate the acceptability and understanding of a vitamin D infographic, developed using recommendations from previous research. Fifteen parents/carers, recruited through local playgroups and adverts on popular parent websites, participated in focus groups and telephone interviews. The majority were female, White British and educated to degree level. A thematic analysis methodology was applied. The findings indicated that understanding and acceptability of the infographic were satisfactory, but improvements were recommended to aid interpretation and create more accessible information. These included additional content (what vitamin D is; other sources; its health benefits; methods/doses for administration and scientific symbols used) and improved presentation (eye-catching, less text, simpler language, more images and a logo). Once finalized, the infographic could be a useful tool to educate families around vitamin D supplementation guidelines, support the UK Healthy Start vitamins scheme and help improve vitamin D status for pregnant and lactating women and young children.
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spelling doaj.art-53c8f328629140a3b1972935f9c0d0302023-11-22T14:38:02ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-09-01139314010.3390/nu13093140Improving Vitamin D Intake in Young Children—Can an Infographic Help Parents and Carers Understand the Recommendations?Ailsa Brogan-Hewitt0Tanefa A Apekey1Meaghan Sarah Christian2Rhiannon Eleanor Day3School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, CL615A Calverley Building, Leeds LS1 3HE, UKSchool of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, CL615A Calverley Building, Leeds LS1 3HE, UKDepartment of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food, Monash University, Be Active Seep Eat (BASE) Facility, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Melbourne, VIC 3168, AustraliaSchool of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, CL615A Calverley Building, Leeds LS1 3HE, UKVitamin D deficiency is a serious public health issue in the United Kingdom. Those at increased risk, such as pregnant women, children under 5 years and people from ethnic groups with dark skin, are not all achieving their recommended vitamin D. Effective vitamin D education is warranted. A qualitative study was undertaken to evaluate the acceptability and understanding of a vitamin D infographic, developed using recommendations from previous research. Fifteen parents/carers, recruited through local playgroups and adverts on popular parent websites, participated in focus groups and telephone interviews. The majority were female, White British and educated to degree level. A thematic analysis methodology was applied. The findings indicated that understanding and acceptability of the infographic were satisfactory, but improvements were recommended to aid interpretation and create more accessible information. These included additional content (what vitamin D is; other sources; its health benefits; methods/doses for administration and scientific symbols used) and improved presentation (eye-catching, less text, simpler language, more images and a logo). Once finalized, the infographic could be a useful tool to educate families around vitamin D supplementation guidelines, support the UK Healthy Start vitamins scheme and help improve vitamin D status for pregnant and lactating women and young children.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/9/3140vitamin D intakeinfants and childreninfographicqualitative research
spellingShingle Ailsa Brogan-Hewitt
Tanefa A Apekey
Meaghan Sarah Christian
Rhiannon Eleanor Day
Improving Vitamin D Intake in Young Children—Can an Infographic Help Parents and Carers Understand the Recommendations?
Nutrients
vitamin D intake
infants and children
infographic
qualitative research
title Improving Vitamin D Intake in Young Children—Can an Infographic Help Parents and Carers Understand the Recommendations?
title_full Improving Vitamin D Intake in Young Children—Can an Infographic Help Parents and Carers Understand the Recommendations?
title_fullStr Improving Vitamin D Intake in Young Children—Can an Infographic Help Parents and Carers Understand the Recommendations?
title_full_unstemmed Improving Vitamin D Intake in Young Children—Can an Infographic Help Parents and Carers Understand the Recommendations?
title_short Improving Vitamin D Intake in Young Children—Can an Infographic Help Parents and Carers Understand the Recommendations?
title_sort improving vitamin d intake in young children can an infographic help parents and carers understand the recommendations
topic vitamin D intake
infants and children
infographic
qualitative research
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/9/3140
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