Subclinical Iodine Deficiency among Pregnant Women in Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Study

Abstract

Background. Iodine deficiency in pregnancy is a worldwide problem. This study aimed to assess prevalence and predictors of subclinical iodine deficiency among pregnant women in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted on 435 pregnant women existing in ten randomly selected rural kebeles (kebele is the smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia). Data on the study subjects' background characteristics, dietary habits, and gynecological/obstetric histories were collected via a structured questionnaire. UIC of <150 μg/L defined subclinical iodine deficiency. Data were analyzed by Stata 11. A multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of subclinical iodine deficiency. Results. The median urinary iodine concentration (MUIC) was 58.1 μg/L and 82.8% of the women who had subclinical iodine deficiency. The risk of subclinical iodine deficiency was reduced by the use of iodized salt (AOR = 0.13) and by intake of milk twice a month or more (AOR = 0.50), but it was increased by maternal illiteracy (AOR = 3.52). Conclusion. Iodine nutritional status of the pregnant women was poor. This shows that women and their children are exposed to iodine deficiency and its adverse effects. Thus, they need urgent supplementation with iodine and improved access to and intake of iodized salt and milk during pregnancy.

Visible Goiter among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Public Health Facilities of Debre Markos Town, East Gojjam, North West Ethiopia

“…Cabbage contains thiocyanate and isothiocyanate that inhibit iodine uptake by the thyroid follicular cells and also blocks the thyroid peroxidase enzyme [16]. e present nding is supported by reports of the previous studies [11,17,18].…”

Progress and challenges in eliminating iodine deficiency in Ethiopia: a systematic review

“…For example, in Oromia, the largest populated region, seven studies investigated iodine level in food and water, and ID prevalence in children and women (Table 2). Only few areas of Jimma zone [7,11,18], Arsi zone [19], Bale zone [20] and Haramaya district [21] were covered, while other zones and districts have no information. Southern Nation Nationalities and Peoples were targeted with three independent studies of zones and districts such as Gamo Gofa [19], Kafa [22], Sidama [23][24][25], Hawasa [26] and Sodo [27,28].…”

“…In the same year 88.9 % of pregnant women visiting Jimma University Specialized Hospital for antenatal care were iodine deficient with a median urinary iodine (MUI) of 48 μg/L [18]. A comparable study from 2014 found 82.8 % of pregnant women in the Haramaya district to be deficient with a MUI of 58.1 μg/L [21]. Similarly, a study from 2013 among non-pregnant women living in rural communities of Sidama zone, found that 96.5 % had UIC below 100 μg/L with a MUI of 37.2 μg/L [24].…”

“…• Nationwide 3 [13,16,17] • Tigray 2 [5,33] • Amhara 3 [29][30][31] • Oromia 5 [7,11,18,20,21] • Addis Ababa 1 [34] • Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR)…”

Maternal marginal iodine deficiency limits dendritic growth of cerebellar purkinje cells in rat offspring by NF‐κB signaling and MAP1B

“…These include deficits in hearing and speech, impairments of learning and memory, mental retardation and psychomotor and motor dysfunction (Prieto et al, ; Charlton et al, ). In spite of these adverse consequences, recent studies have still demonstrated that iodine intake during gestation is low (Ghassabian et al, ; Kedir et al, ; Majumder et al, ). Recently, there is an increasing iodine nutrition assessments indicate that a substantial part of child‐bearing women is in a state of marginal ID (Ferreira et al, ; Méndez‐Villa et al, ; Zimmermann et al, ).…”