Public awareness on factors influencing Rickets occurence among children in Nairobi: a case of Eastlands Community, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Survey design, was used for the study and data was collected using cross-sectional method. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed. Quantitative approach was used to gather general information; this was achieved through interview guide questionnaire. Qualitative approach was used to capture experience, opinions and ideas from the participants. The sample population was parents of children less than three years and who reside in Eastlands, Nairobi. The data was sorted, coded entered into Microsoft-Excel. SPSS was applied to analyze the data because of its accuracy. The results revealed that there was low level of public awareness on factors influencing rickets among children in Eastlands.

Children under two years were mostly affected by rickets and this was due to none exposure to sunlight, nutrition and lifestyle. There was strong negative association of public awareness on factors influencing occurrence of rickets among children in Eastlands, Nairobi. The study sought to establish the level of public awareness on factors influencing rickets in Nairobi, among children under three years. The study was based in Eastlands, Nairobi. The objectives of the study were to assess the level of public awareness on rickets occurrence by the parents of children less than three years in Eastlands.

The second objective was to examine ifmother's diet during gestation influence rickets occurrence among children. The third objective was to establish if lifestyle influences rickets occurrence among children under three years and the fourth objective was to assess the influence of rickets of prematurity occurrence among children in Eastlands, Nairobi. There is need for raising public awareness on factors influencing rickets occurrence among children in Nairobi. Further research on the topic should be done because there was no locally published information on level of public awareness on occurrence of rickets at the time of the study.