The iodine knowledge of pregnant women in an endemic goiter area: a cross-sectional study
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 16 December 2021
Issue publication date: 3 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the level of knowledge about iodine nutrition during pregnancy among pregnant women living in the area of Turkey where goiter is endemic.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 150 pregnant women aged between 19 and 45 years, registered at the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Clinic in Trabzon were recruited. The data was collected through a voluntary face-to-face survey with pregnant women. The questionnaire comprising questions determining the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, data concerning any previous pregnancy, iodized salt consumption habits and knowledge about iodine.
Findings
Although 68% of the women knew that iodine deficiency can cause serious consequences during pregnancy, the remainder did not. The three main dietary sources of iodine in Turkey are fish, cow’s milk and table salt; of the women, 68%, 20% and 77.3%, respectively, correctly identified these as good sources. The more educated of the pregnant women had significantly higher knowledge scores (p < 0.001). However, age, trimester, parity and previous receipt of information about iodine and iodine knowledge scores made no significant differences.
Research limitations/implications
This study may not be generalizable for all pregnant women.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first pilot study to evaluate the level of knowledge regarding iodine among pregnant women in Turkey.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Authors are grateful to pregnant women for participating in this study.
Authors contributions: Nazlı Nur Aslan Çin and Ayşe Özfer Özçelik designed the study. Nazlı Nur Aslan Çin performed the analysis. Nazlı Nur Aslan Çin drafted the initial manuscript and Nazlı Nur Aslan Çin and Ayşe Özfer Özçelik revised the manuscript; Nazlı Nur Aslan Çin and Ayşe Özfer Özçelik provided important advice for the calculations, reviewed and revised the manuscript making important intellectual contributions; all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Ethical standards disclosure: Approval of the Ethics Committee was received from Ankara University (No. 11–478-16) and the Helsinki Declaration principles were followed in the research.
Availability of data and materials: The data sets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Citation
Aslan Çin, N.N. and Özçelik, A.Ö. (2022), "The iodine knowledge of pregnant women in an endemic goiter area: a cross-sectional study", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 52 No. 1, pp. 33-44. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-11-2020-0427
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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