Vitamin usage patterns and influencing factors in Anatolia

Abstract

Nowadays the frequent use of vitamins and minerals as drugs occurs for various reasons. In this study we aimed to investigate the incidence and causes of vitamin usage in Kirikkale. The study group of this cross-sectional study consisted of mothers/fathers whose children were admitted to the Kirikkale University Hospital pediatric outpatient departments during the period August 2013-February 2014. A total of 409 [296 (23.7%) male, 316 (76.1%) female] individuals with a mean age of 35.5 (20-82) years and having on average 2.3 children participated. Most of the group members stated that they (69.2%) or their children (68.2%) had no health problems; over the last year, 67.8% had used vitamins for themselves and 72.9% had used them for their children. The most commonly used vitamins were B12 (6.4%), multivitamins (3.8%) and vitamin C (3.4%). There was no significant difference in the use of vitamins either in the presence of health problems or by sex (respectively, p=0.278 and 0.486). The most common reasons for vitamin usage were: to strengthen the immune system (30.7%); and for the prevention of cancer (17.7%). Participants indicated that most of their information about vitamins had been obtained from television (43.5%). Our results revealed higher vitamin usage rates than have other studies done in Turkey. We want to emphasize the importance of creating awareness regarding rational drug use not only in the general community but also among health workers.