Abstract:
: Rickets is a metabolic bone disease caused in bones. It is a nutrient deficiency
manifestation particularly for calcium and vitamin D from sunlight. It remains prevalent in
developing regions of the world and rank among the five most common diseases in children.
Vitamin D deficiency remains the major cause of rickets among under five children in most
developed countries like Ethiopia.
However, its magnitude and associated factors are not well studied and documented in this study
area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude and the associated factors of
rickets among under-five children in Asela referral and teaching hospital
Objective: This study aimed to assess rickets and its associated factor among under five children
in Asela referral and teaching hospital Oromia regional state, Ethiopia from June 15 to July30
/2022.
Methods: An institution based- cross-sectional study was conducted among under-five children
in Asela referral and teaching hospital who were selected by systematic random sampling. Data
were collected using semi-structured and pretested questionnaire. The collected data was entered
into EpiData version 3.1 and transferred to SPSS Version 22.0 for analysis. Bi-variable and
multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to identify the factors associated with rickets;
both crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated. P<0.05 was
considered for statistical significance.
Result: The magnitude of rickets among under five children was 16(3.8%) with (95% CI: 1.9%-
5.7%). No oil massage during sun exposure (AOR=1.59 95% CI: 1.01, 16.51), fully dressing
(AOR=3.27 95% CI: 1.016, 5.28) and the children who were sick in the last one month preceding
the study (AOR=7.158 95% CI: 4.28, 12.683) were positively associated with rickets among under
five children in this study.
Conclusion: In this study some factors were identified and among those no oil massaging during
sun exposure, fully dressing during sun exposure and sick last one month prior to study were
identified as positively associated factor of rickets among under five children. Therefore, the
health sectors should work to prevent rickets through counseling and encouraging of proper
sunlight exposure and disease prevention
