A comparative study of prevalence of serum vitamin-d and serum calcium deficiency in burka clad pregnant women and non burka clad pregnant women in tertiary health care centre, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Abstract

Introduction: In pregnant women, lower level of both serum calcium and vitamin D cause serious impact on feto-maternal outcome. Purpose of the study is to use the opportunity of antenatal checkups to screen the screening of pregnant women for Vit D-3 and serum calcium levels and find out effect of clothes worn by them routinely as proper exposure to sunlight remain a key factor in Vit-D 3 level in burka and non burka clad. Methods and Material: This is an observational, randomized comparative study conducted in Department of obstetrics and Gynaecology at SMS Hospital, Jaipur, India from april, 2016 to july 2017. Total 200 of pregnant women who attended antenatal clinic were taken in the study, divided in burka clad and non burka clad and their blood samples sent for serum vitamin D3 and serum calcium level along with routine antenatal investigations. Results: In our study in both groups around 92-94% of the pregnant patients were found to be deficient as their serum vitamin –D levels were below 20 ng/ml. The calcium level in both groups were also below normal in around 70-72% patients. Conclusion: Serum vitamin D3 and serum calcium levels were very low in majority of pregnant women in both groups due to inadequate sun exposure, poor diet and supplement intake in their pre conceptional and antenatal period.