Incidence of rickets of prematurity at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.

BACKGROUND Reports of osteopaenia/rickets of prematurity are on the increase 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, Nairobi. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Newborn unit and paediatric outpatient follow up clinic of Kenyatta National Hospital. SUBJECTS Successive surviving infants of birthweight less than 2000 g residents 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 infants seen at Kenyatta National Hospital. Routine vitamin D supplements to premature infants in adequate doses of at least 400iu per day should be adopted in our centre.