Risk Factors Associated With Rickets In Infants And Children Aged 6-59 Months Attending Kiambu District Hospital, Kenya

Abstract

There are increased reported cases of rickets in Kenya coupled with scanty data on its cause. This study was carried out to determine risk factors associated with rickets for pediatric infants and children attending Maternal and Child Health clinic at Kiambu district hospital. A cross sectional analytical survey design was used. Systematic random sampling was used to select 377 infants and children in addition to their mothers and care givers for data collection. Simple random sampling was used to choose 39 subjects for dietary intake survey. Convenience sampling was used to select nine health care providers. Data collected included demographic, social economic, anthropometric, dietary, sun exposure practices, health seeking behaviour and morbidity using structured and semi-structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17.0 and tested for significance at p