Policy analysis of preventing of vitamin D deficiency and providing practical policy options in Iran

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is a public health concern worldwide and an association was reported between lower concentrations of vitamin D and higher risk of all-cause mortality. Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of policy analysis of preventing of vitamin D deficiency and providing practical policy options in Iran. Analysis of vitamin D deficiency prevention policies can identify existing challenges and opportunities regarding this policy for policymakers and researchers and be used in the country's making policies. Methods: This study was a policy analysis study conducted in a mixed-method (review study, qualitative study) design. The review study was a comprehensive review; the qualitative study was an exploratory study. Results: The results of a review study on vitamin D prevention policies showed that the use of a combination of efficient policies would be effective to improve vitamin D status in the population. The vitamin D supplementation strategy will be effective as a short-term approach, especially for vulnerable groups, including infants and pregnant women, and foof fortification strategy is considered the best approach for the long term and for the population level. At the level of vitamin D program implementation, weakness in inter-sectoral cooperation, infrastructure related to health information system, communication between policy-makers and executive units, program evaluation system, as well as political and economic sanctions, were identified as the most important problems of effective implementation of the program. Conclusion: Despite the Iranian health system has taken effective steps in the prevention of VDD through the establishment of the Iranian National Committee for NCDs prevention and control, and implementation of vitamin D supplementation program, there are many contextual, inter-sectoral and intra-sectoral challenges in preventing of VDD. Managing and preventing of VDD is out of the reach of the Ministry of Health alone. Keywords: vitamin D, Program, Vitamin D deficiency, Policy, Challenges, Supplementation, Fortification.