Very high vitamin D supplementation rates among infants aged 2 months in Vancouver and Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

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

ISSN: 1471-2458