Goiter among school children in El-Kharga town, new valley governorate, Egypt

ABSTRACT

In an epidemiological study carried out in El-Kharga Town, New Valley Governorate, 843 randomized school children, aged from 6 to 18 years were examined for goitre by cervical palpation. A detailed questionnaire was fully completed by each child and his parents. An overall prevalence of goitre was 12.34%. A significant relation was noted between the presence of goitre, on one hand, and sex, age, family size, mother's education and occupation [P <0.5]. On the other hand, there was non significant relationship with birth order, father's education and occupation. Also, there was non significant relation between the presence of goitre and the use of iodized food. Whereas, a significant relation was found between the use of iodized food and mother's education