Table 3.
Advice and decisions on vitamin D supplementation
| % (n) | |
|---|---|
| Did anyone ever recommend a vitamin D supplement? | |
| Yes | 92.2 (532) |
| No | 7.8 (45) |
| Who recommended the supplement? (n = 532)a | |
| Public health nurse | 80.2 (426) |
| Doctor | 69.7 (370) |
| Midwife | 9.6 (51) |
| Dietitian/pharmacist | 5.1 (27) |
| Family member or friend | 19.4 (103) |
| Other1 | 7.7 (46) |
| Reasons for providing a vitamin D supplement (n = 452)a | |
| Not in breast milk/I am breastfeeding | 43.6 (197) |
| It was recommended | 30.3 (137) |
| Health benefits for infant | 28.3 (128) |
| Lack of sunlight/northern climate | 21.0 (95) |
| Other2 | 13.1 (59) |
| Reasons for not supplementing vitamin D (n = 116)a | |
| Baby is being fed formula | 35.3 (41) |
| I didn't know to give | 10.3 (12) |
| I don't think the baby needs it | 19.0 (22) |
| Forgot to give | 3.4 (4) |
| Baby did not tolerate (vomit/spit up) | 0.9 (1) |
| Other3 | 5.2 (6) |
| No response | 28.4 (33) |
aMultiple responses possible
1Reading, television, internet, South Community Birth Program, Baby's Best Chance, prenatal class, lactation clinic, natural path, doula, specialist, from first child
2Knew from first baby, read about it, did not know why, it is important
3Confused with the recommended dose, will purchase later, will ask doctor, first baby did not tolerate, had not started yet