A qualitative study of uptake of free vitamins in England

Jessiman, Tricia; Cameron, Ailsa M; Wiggins, Meg; Lucas, Patricia J

doi:10.1136/archdischild-2013-303838

Cited by 35 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…2 An advice sheet advocating this has been written by the authors of this ALSPAC cohort study, 2 but a higher iodine intake has not previously been suggested in the UK due to lack of evidence of its benefit. 3 The infrastructure may already be there to implement this advice concerning increased intake, with schemes such as Healthy Start providing subsidised nutritious foods supplements. Even though there is low uptake of such schemes at present, 4 with more backing and improved accessibility it may be possible to enhance borderline diets in the most vulnerable.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal first-trimester iodine deficiency predicts poor cognitive outcome in English children

Graham-Evans

Brown

2014

Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal first-trimester iodine deficiency predicts poor cognitive outcome in English children

Graham-Evans

Brown

2014

Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed

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“…The operation of the Healthy Start scheme, which provides free vitamins to low-income families, is also very complex,34 leading to low uptake, poor accessibility and lack of motivation to take daily supplements,35 not to mention the lack of parental awareness 36. Apart from the complexity of the guidance, it is mainly the complete lack of accountability and monitoring that is responsible for the failing of the Healthy Start programme to improve the vitamin D status of the at-risk population 34.…”

Section: Factors Contributing To Resurgence Of Rickets In the Ukmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevention of rickets and osteomalacia in the UK: political action overdue

Uday

Högler

2018

Arch Dis Child

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The consequences of vitamin D and dietary calcium deficiency have become a huge public health concern in the UK. The burden of disease from these deficiencies includes rickets, and hypocalcaemic seizures, dilated cardiomyopathy and mostly occult myopathy and osteomalacia. The increasing burden of the disease is intrinsically linked to ethnicity and the population demographic changes in the UK. Three facts have led to the resurfacing of the English disease: (1) the UK has no ultraviolet sunlight for at least 6 months of the year, (2) dark skin produces far less vitamin D than white skin per unit ultraviolet light exposure, and (3) non-European Union immigration over the last century. To date, the UK government demonstrates incomplete understanding of these three facts, and its failure to adjust its prevention programmes to changing demographics is endangering the health and life of UK residents with dark skin, of whom infants are the most vulnerable. Establishing accountability through the implementation of monitored antenatal and infantile supplementation programmes and mandatory food fortification is overdue.

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“…In the UK, a system of coupons exchangeable for bottles of vitamin D has been instituted by the National Health Service (NHS) and has partially succeeded [6]. Turkey provides vitamin D via prescription [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential low uptake of free vitamin D supplements in preterm infants: the Quebec experience

et al. 2014

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BackgroundVitamin D is essential for bone mineralization, particularly in premature infants. For nearly 20 years, Quebec has offered a program of free vitamin D supplements via its public medication insurance plan Régie de l’Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ). The objective of this study is to evaluate the number of preterm infants that obtained at least one bottle (50 doses) of vitamin D supplement through this program and to determine if uptake varied by gestational age.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of preterm infants covered by RAMQ and born from 1998 to 2008; all infants had 1 year of follow-up data regarding supplement use. Data were extracted from the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort, a linked administrative database and were stratified by early (<34 weeks) or late gestational age premature infants. The number of infants obtaining supplements was the primary outcome and their characteristics were compared across gestational age groups. Predictors for participation (obtaining at least 1 bottle) or adherence (2 or more bottles) were identified via logistic regression (GEE).Results10288 infants were eligible; the percentage exposed to vitamin D was 24.5% (37.4%- early; 20.7%-late preterm infants, p < 0.001). The median number of bottles obtained was 2 for early and 1 for late preterms. For all premature infants, there was an apparent geometric decline in the infants obtaining subsequent bottles of supplements over the 12 month period. Additionally, there was a significant decline in program participation over time (OR = 0.90/year, 95% CI: 0.89-0.90) regardless of gestational age. Older or more educated mothers were positive predictors for participation. A prescription from a pediatrician significantly increased the odds of obtaining the supplement.ConclusionEarly preterm infants were more likely to obtain the supplement post-discharge; uptake was low and decreased with time for both age categories. Specifically, targeting late preterm infants and young mothers with less education could improve vitamin D uptake.

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A qualitative study of uptake of free vitamins in England

Cited by 35 publications

References 14 publications

Maternal first-trimester iodine deficiency predicts poor cognitive outcome in English children

Maternal first-trimester iodine deficiency predicts poor cognitive outcome in English children

Prevention of rickets and osteomalacia in the UK: political action overdue

Differential low uptake of free vitamin D supplements in preterm infants: the Quebec experience

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