An evidence based approach to vitamin D deficiency in the child and adolescent refugee population of Western Australia (WA)

Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Daily Versus Depot Vitamin D3 Therapy in 0–16-Year-Old Newly Settled Refugees in Western Australia Over a Period of 40 Weeks

“…Dietary analysis confirmed that traditional diets of all families, regardless of ethnic background, were deficient in calcium and vitamin D. Newly settled migrants and refugees are often in poor health due to prolonged periods in their country of origin or refuge before entering Australia [ 5 , 77 ]. Once in Australia, unfamiliarity with local produce, food insecurity, accessibility, limited health literacy, language barriers and acculturation (e.g., consumption of high-fat, high-calorie fast foods) can further influence suboptimal nutrition [ 5 , 77 , 78 , 79 ]. Our data demonstrate the importance of nutritional assessment for refugee children and provision of culturally appropriate health and nutrition education to allow families to familiarise themselves with local produce and foods and optimise nutritional intake in keeping with age-appropriate recommendations [ 79 ].…”

“…It is on the rise in developed countries, even in Australia where there is an abundance of sunlight [ 3 ]. Additional risk factors among newly settled refugees include veiling, dietary deficiencies, darker skin colour and unfamiliarity with the local healthcare system [ 4 , 5 ]. More specifically, in Australian children with vitamin D deficiency rickets, risk factors include dark skin and maternal veiling with 96–98% of these being children migrants or born to a migrant parent [ 6 , 7 ].…”