Incidence of rickets of prematurity at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi

Background: Reports of osteopaenia/rickets of prematurity are on the increa se due to improved survival rates of low birthweight infants. Objective: To establish the incidence of rickets of prematurity by the age of six months in premature infants born at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nair obi, Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Newborn unit and paediatric outpatient follow up clinic of Kenyatt a National Hospital, Subjects: Successive surviving infants of birthweight less than 2000g resid ents in Nairobi. Results: Incidence of rickets of prematurity by six months of age was 58.8% . Rickets appeared more commonly in male infants compared to female infants . Conclusion: Rickets of prematurity is a common problem in the premature inf ants seen at Kenyatta National Hospital. Routine vitamin D supplements to p remature infants in adequate doses of at least 400iu per day should be adop ted in our centre.