Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health

and training cup. In addition, each mother was asked when solid foods were introduced to
the child and the frequency <strong>of</strong> sugary snacks.
The final section <strong>of</strong> the follow-up questionnaire included variables such as the
number <strong>of</strong> people in the home, whether the mother participated in “Healthy Baby”
community programming, received the “Healthy Baby” provincial benefit during
pregnancy, and received government assistance.
Implementation
Women seeking prenatal care at various core area community health clinics were invited
to participate. Sites serving as centers for the recruitment <strong>of</strong> study volunteers included the
Outpatient Department <strong>of</strong> Women’s Hospital, Health Action Centre, and Mount Carmel
Clinic. Women’s Hospital is situated at 735 NotreDame Avenue and is part <strong>of</strong>
Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre (HSC). Health Action Centre, a primary health clinic
in the Downtown neighbourhood <strong>of</strong> Winnipeg, is situated at 425 Elgin Avenue and is
also affiliated with HSC. Mount Carmel Clinic, another primary health clinic in the Point
Douglas community <strong>of</strong> Winnipeg, is situated at 886 Main Street. All three clinics are
known to serve many members <strong>of</strong> the Aboriginal population. The sample for this
proposed research was obtained through contacts made by primary care obstetricians and
family physicians, prenatal nurses, clinic staff, and other health pr<strong>of</strong>essionals providing
prenatal care at these clinics.
The recruitment <strong>of</strong> research participants commenced during the summer <strong>of</strong> 2002.
The first participant was recruited from Health Action Centre in June 2002. The first
participant from the Women’s Outpatient Department (OPD) <strong>of</strong> Health Sciences Centre
2-15