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Knowledge and practices towards vitamin D sources and insufficiency among healthcare workers in Erbil, Iraq, 2025

Shaymaa Qais Saeed
Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
Sherzad Abdulahad Shabu
Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Shaymaa Qais Saeed, Sherzad Abdulahad Shabu (Author)

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Abstract

Background and objective: Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that is produced in the skin depending on sunlight and found in different foods. Its deficiency is a widespread health issue, affecting approximately one billion people and leading to significant health consequences. This study aimed to assess knowledge and practices regarding vitamin D sources and insufficiency amongst healthcare workers (HCWs) in Erbil hospitals.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at five public hospitals in Erbil city in 2025. A total of 400 HCWs were recruited from the selected hospitals. A structured questionnaire was developed, which included three sections: sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge questions, and practice questions related to sources and insufficiency of vitamin D.

Results: This study revealed that 33 HCWs (8.3%) had poor knowledge, 319 (79.7%) had fair knowledge, and 48 (12%) had good knowledge about vitamin D. Good knowledge levels were significantly higher in older HCWs (55.2%), highly educated HCWs (23.3%), technicians (20%), and HCWs who had 1–13 years of experience (13.3%). Only 28 (7%) exhibited good practice, and the poor practice level was significantly higher among females (56.3%) and technicians (60%).

Conclusion: Most HCWs had fair knowledge and less than half had poor practices regarding vitamin D. Better knowledge was associated with older age, higher education, longer service, and being a technician, while poor practices were more common among females and technicians. Targeted interventions are recommended to improve HCWs’ knowledge and practices for better public health outcomes.

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How to Cite
Saeed, S. Q., & Shabu, S. A. . (2026). Knowledge and practices towards vitamin D sources and insufficiency among healthcare workers in Erbil, Iraq, 2025 . Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (ZJMS), 30(2), 333–344. https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2026.023

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