Table 2.
Knowledge status of mothers about sunlight exposure of their infants among who attend EPI service in Aleta Wendo Health Center, Aleta Wondo Town, Southern Ethiopia, 2018 (N = 312)
| Variable | Categories | Number | Percent (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternal positive belief towards the benefit of sunlight exposure of infants | Yes | 265 | 84.9 |
| No | 47 | 15.1 | |
| Benefit of sunlight exposure (n = 265) | Strengthen bone | 157 | 59.3 |
| Strengthen teeth | 18 | 6.8 | |
| Strengthen body | 18 | 6.8 | |
| Produce vitamin D | 56 | 21.1 | |
| Keep child warm | 16 | 6.0 | |
| Maternal perception harmfulness of sunlight exposure of infants | Yes | 152 | 48.7 |
| No | 160 | 51.3 | |
| Harmful effects of sunlight exposure (N = 152) | Skin cancer | 67 | 21.5 |
| Sun burn | 30 | 9.6 | |
| Inflammation and Hyper pigmentation | 21 | 6.7 | |
| Blindness | 26 | 8.3 | |
| Sterility | 8 | 2.6 | |
| Good time to expose infants to sunlight | Morning time | 282 | 90.4 |
| After noon Time | 15 | 4.8 | |
| Evening time | 8 | 2.6 | |
| Any time | 7 | 2.2 | |
| Awareness about the effect of inadequate or absence of sunlight exposure such as rickets | Yes | 204 | 65.4 |
| No | 108 | 34.6 | |
| Awareness attribute to detection of rickets (sign of rickets) (N = 204) | Late closure of fontanel | 56 | 27.5 |
| Late tooth eruption | 18 | 8.8 | |
| Bowing of leg | 63 | 30.9 | |
| Enlargements of joints | 24 | 11.8 | |
| Knock knee | 30 | 14.7 | |
| Weak leg | 9 | 4.4 | |
| Don’t know | 4 | 2.0 | |
| Knowledge attribute to prevention and/or curability of rickets (N = 204) | Yes | 156 | 76.4 |
| No | 35 | 17.2 | |
| Don’t know | 13 | 6.4 | |
| Treatment or prevention option of rickets (N = 204) | Follow doctors advice | 107 | 52.5 |
| Early detection and treatment | 19 | 9.3 | |
| Adequate Diet Intake | 25 | 12.2 | |
| Sunbathing the child | 30 | 14.7 | |
| Don’t know | 23 | 11.3 |