{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]],"date-time":"2026-06-16T22:54:04Z","timestamp":1781650444099,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,17]],"date-time":"2022-11-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1668643200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\"><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Infant sunlight exposure in their early infancy is essential for the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent due to inadequate exposure to sunlight. In Ethiopia, one in thirteen children had rickets, which could be prevented by sunlight exposure or supplementation. This study aimed to identify the practice of infants\u2019 sunlight exposure and associated factors among mothers attending the Expanded program immunization unit of Wolkite University Specialized Hospital.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec id=\"sec002\"><jats:title>Method<\/jats:title><jats:p>This study employed an institutional-based cross-sectional study design to collect data. Data were collected from 220 mothers using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The study employed a systematic random sampling technique to reach the study participants. The collected data were entered into a computer using the software Epidata 3.1 version and exported to SPSS version 23 for statistical analysis. Descriptive and inferential analysis was conducted. Logistic regression analysis was done, and a statistical association was declared at a p-value &lt; 5% and a 95% confidence interval(CI). Then the results were presented using a frequency table, figures, and description.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec id=\"sec003\"><jats:title>Result<\/jats:title><jats:p>A total of 220 infant-coupled mothers who visited the Expanded program immunization unit were included in the study. According to the current study, 67.3% of mothers had good practice with infants\u2019 sunlight exposure. Mothers\u2019 practice of infant sunlight exposure was affected by age of mothers 30\u201334 years, [AOR = 3.10, 95%CI (1.13, 8.51)], and age \u226535 years, [AOR = 4.49, 95%CI (1.20, 16.86)], and living in urban, [AOR = 1.94, 95%CI (1.053, 3.57)].<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec id=\"sec004\"><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>The current study showed that two-thirds (67.3%) of mothers had good practice of sunlight exposure to their infants. Factors that affect mothers\u2019 practice of infants\u2019 sunlight exposure are age and place of residence. Health professionals should provide health education for mothers on the benefits of infants\u2019 sunlight exposure.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0277349","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,17]],"date-time":"2022-11-17T19:11:39Z","timestamp":1668712299000},"page":"e0277349","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Factors associated with infants\u2019 sunlight exposure among mothers attending the EPI unit of Wolkite University Specialized Hospital"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3237-1549","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Girma Teferi","family":"Mengistu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ayana Benti","family":"Terefe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tolesa Gemeda","family":"Gudeta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bizunesh Kefale","family":"Mengistu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0277349.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18105429","article-title":"The Influence of Sunlight Exposure and Sun Protecting Behaviours on Allergic Outcomes in Early Childhood.","volume":"18","author":"K Rueter","year":"2021","journal-title":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"603","DOI":"10.7196\/SAMJnew.7785","article-title":"Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Africa and the Middle East, despite year-round sunny days.","volume":"105","author":"RJ Green","year":"2015","journal-title":"SAMJ: South African Medical Journal. scieloza"},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref003","volume-title":"Benefits of sunlight: a bright spot for human health","author":"MN Mead","year":"2008"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0277349.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1081","DOI":"10.3390\/nu7021081","article-title":"Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Supplementation in Relation to Vitamin D Status of Breastfeeding Mothers and Infants in the Global Exploration of Human Milk Study.","volume":"7","author":"A Dawodu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nutrients [Internet]."},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1409","DOI":"10.1002\/cnr2.1409","article-title":"Sunlight exposure in infancy decreases risk of sporadic retinoblastoma, extent of intraocular disease.","author":"M Orjuela-Grimm","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cancer Rep [Internet]."},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsbmb.2016.09.004","article-title":"Sunlight exposure: Do health benefits outweigh harm?","volume":"175","author":"MS Razzaque","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol [Internet]."},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0277349.ref007","first-page":"603","article-title":"Vitamin D Deficiency in Breastfed Infants in Iowa","volume":"118","author":"Ekhard E. Ziegler","year":"2006","journal-title":"Pediatrics August"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0277349.ref008","first-page":"283","article-title":"Nutritional rickets and vitamin D deficiency in infants, children and adolescents","volume":"7","author":"T Unuvar","year":"2010","journal-title":"Pediatr Endocrinol Rev [Internet]."},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0277349.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"428","DOI":"10.1111\/nbu.12349","article-title":"Vitamin D status in the tropics: Is sunlight exposure the main determinant?","volume":"43","author":"MM Mendes","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nutr Bull [Internet]."},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref010","article-title":"The Role of Vitamin D Deficiency in Children With Recurrent Wheezing\u2014Clinical Significance.","author":"G. Feketea","year":"2020","journal-title":"Frontiers in Pediatrics."},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0277349.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"268","DOI":"10.5694\/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00558.x","article-title":"Prevention and treatment of infant and childhood vitamin D deficiency in Australia and New Zealand: a consensus statement.","volume":"185","author":"C Munns","year":"2006","journal-title":"Med J Aust."},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0277349.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.1016\/j.beem.2015.03.003","article-title":"Complications of vitamin D deficiency from the foetus to the infant: One cause, one prevention, but who\u2019s responsibility?","volume":"29","author":"W. H\u00f6gler","year":"2015","journal-title":"Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab [Internet]."},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"529","DOI":"10.2147\/IJWH.S107707","article-title":"Prevalence and risk factors for low vitamin D status among breastfeeding mother-infant dyads in an environment with abundant sunshine","volume":"8","author":"K Salameh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int J Womens Health [Internet]."},{"issue":"suppl_2","key":"pone.0277349.ref014","first-page":"S153","volume":"66","author":"A. Prentice","year":"2008","journal-title":"Vitamin D deficiency: a global perspectiveNutr Rev [Internet]."},{"issue":"1\/6","key":"pone.0277349.ref015","first-page":"43","article-title":"Habits of infants sunlight exposure.","volume":"19","author":"SD Castilho","year":"2010","journal-title":"Rev Ci\u00eancias M\u00e9dicas."},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0277349.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1007\/s13312-017-1010-9","article-title":"Sunlight exposure and vitamin D status in breastfed infants.","volume":"54","author":"P Meena","year":"2017","journal-title":"Indian Pediatr"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0277349.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1111\/nyas.13968","article-title":"Global prevalence and disease burden of vitamin D deficiency: a roadmap for action in low- and middle-income countries.","volume":"1430","author":"DE Roth","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ann N Y Acad Sci [Internet]."},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref018","article-title":"The importance of vitamin D in maternal and child health: a global perspective.","volume":"3819","author":"M. Fiscaletti","year":"2017","journal-title":"Public Health Rev"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0277349.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.1007\/s12018-009-9038-6","article-title":"Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Health Consequences in Africa.","volume":"7","author":"A Prentice","year":"2009","journal-title":"Clin Rev Bone Miner Metab [Internet]."},{"issue":"7657","key":"pone.0277349.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1318 LP","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.39581.411424.80","article-title":"Deficiency of sunlight and vitamin D","volume":"336","author":"MF Holick","year":"2008","journal-title":"BMJ [Internet]."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0277349.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"433","DOI":"10.1007\/s00394-018-1607-3","article-title":"Is vitamin D deficiency a public health concern for low middle income countries? A systematic literature review","volume":"58","author":"KD Cashman","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur J Nutr [Internet]."},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0277349.ref022","first-page":"44","article-title":"Retrospective analysis of prevalence of rickets and associated factors among children admitted to pediatric ward in Jimma University specialized hospital","volume":"1","author":"C Kenenisa","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Pediatr Neonatal Care"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0277349.ref023","first-page":"203","article-title":"A systematic review of nutritional rickets in Ethiopia: status and prospects.","volume":"43","author":"Y Wondale","year":"2005","journal-title":"Ethiopian Medical Journal"},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1007\/s12098-009-0263-2","article-title":"Sunlight exposure and development of rickets in Indian toddlers","volume":"77","author":"V.H. Ekbote","year":"2010","journal-title":"Indian J Pediatr"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0277349.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0120963","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0120963","article-title":"Vitamin D deficiency and its predictors in a country with thirteen months of sunshine: the case of school children in central Ethiopia.","volume":"10","author":"T Wakayo","year":"2015","journal-title":"PLoS One."},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0277349.ref026","first-page":"23","article-title":"Rickets and its associated factors among under-five children in selected public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia.","volume":"3","author":"K Sisay","year":"2019","journal-title":"East African J Heal Biomed Sci"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0277349.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"88","DOI":"10.1093\/tropej\/21.2.88","article-title":"Rickets and Exposure to Suiishine","volume":"21","author":"B Hojer","year":"1975","journal-title":"J Trop Pediatr."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0277349.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.11648\/j.ajns.20160501.15","article-title":"Assessment of practice and factors affecting sunlight exposure of infants among mothers attending governmental health facilities in debre markos town, East Gojjam, Ethiopia, 2015","volume":"5","author":"A Abate","year":"2016","journal-title":"American journal of nursing science"},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref029","first-page":"2019","article-title":"Assessment of Knowledge, attitude, and practice of sunlight exposure of infants among mothers attending in governmental health facilities in Farta district, South Gondar zone, North West Ethiopia, 2018.","author":"H Gedamu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J Reprod Med"},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11795565211041348","DOI":"10.1177\/11795565211041348","article-title":"Knowledge and Practice of Infants Exposure to Sunlight Among Lactating Mothers Attending at Yirgalem Hospital, Sidama Regional State.","volume":"15","author":"AS Bezabih","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin Med Insights Pediatr."},{"issue":"01","key":"pone.0277349.ref031","first-page":"1","article-title":"Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Mothers on Sun Exposure of their Infants at St. Paul\u2019s Hospital, Ethiopia","volume":"6","author":"MG Dessalegn","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Appl Sci Curr Futur Res Trends"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0277349.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s13104-019-4221-4","article-title":"Knowledge and practice on adequate sunlight exposure of infants among mothers attending EPI unit of Aleta Wondo Health Center, SNNPR, Ethiopia.","volume":"12","author":"A Bedaso","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Res Notes"},{"key":"pone.0277349.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978-021-01283-9","article-title":"Effectiveness of checklist-based box system intervention (CBBSI) versus routine care on improving postnatal care utilization in Northwest Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial.","volume":"18","author":"N.B. Andargie","year":"2021","journal-title":"Reprod Health"}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0277349","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,1]],"date-time":"2023-12-01T09:56:20Z","timestamp":1701424580000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0277349"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Mohammad Hossein","family":"Ebrahimi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,17]]},"references-count":33,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,17]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0277349","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,17]]}}}