Effect of Lifestyle Pattern and Cultural Practices on Vitamin D Status of Muslim Women in Coimbatore City

Abstract

Muslim women follow unique lifestyle pattern influenced by cultural practices. Studies in Middle East countries showed high rate of vitamin D deficiency among Muslim women1. Hence, the present study aims to find the effect of lifestyle pattern and cultural practices on vitamin D status of Muslim women. Two hundred Muslim women between the age of 25 to 45 years were selected in Coimbatore city. Details regarding education, occupation, cultural dress, sunlight exposure, sunscreen usage and physical activity patterns were collected using a designed interview schedule. Clinical examination was conducted for signs and symptoms of vitamin D and calcium deficiency. Nineteen per cent of the women were between 25-30 years, 44 per cent were between 31-40 years and 37 per cent were between 41-45 years of age. Eighty eight per cent were house wives and 91.5 per cent of them wore cultural dress, among which 59 percentage wore chaddar in black colour. Sunlight exposure was less than 30 mins in 39.5 percentage of women. Seventy five per cent of them did not exercise. Back pain, bone loss, body pain and hair loss were prominent symptoms among the women. There was a significant association (P = 0.008) between sunlight exposure, type and colour of the cultural dress, back pain, pain in bone and bone loss. Hence, it may be concluded that exposure to sunlight at home may be recommended to improve vitamin D status of Muslim women.