An evaluation of intervention effectiveness of a health education project on iodine deficiency disorders in Xi’an from 2007 - 2011 / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To find out the cognition understanding of iodine deficiency disorders(IDD) of target population in Xi’an City, and evaluate the effectiveness of a health education project on prevention and control of IDD. Methods By using the random number table, three towns in each project county were selected. Obeying the requirements of the education program for IDD control, the health education activities were implemented during 2007 - 2011. Before and after intervention, questionnaire was used to investigate the intervention effect. The primary school grade 5 students and women of childbearing age were included in the survey of IDD knowledge. Hierarchical random sampling method was used to select pupils and childbearing women. Results After health education, the rate of knowledge on IDD increased from 66.97%(13 321/19 890) to 93.49%(18 610/19 905,χ2 = 4 413.07, P < 0.05) among pupils, and 62.27%(6 193/9 945) to 93.96%(9 361/ 9 963, χ2= 2 924.18, P<0.05) among childbearing women. And the awareness had reached the national standard. But the survey results showed that the rate of IDD related knowledge in rural areas was lower than that in town areas. The awareness rates of IDD in precaution, main hazards, identification of iodized salt were 46.50%(239/514), 55.25%(284/514) and 50.97%(262/514) among pupils in rural areas and 61.44%(376/612), 65.69%(402/612) and 70.59%(432/612) among pupils in town areas, and the awareness rates of pupils in rural areas were lower than those of pupils in town areas. Thirty-six point ninety-three per cent(226/612) of the pupils in towns and 35.60%(183/514) of the pupils in rural areas told this information to their parents. The awareness rates of IDD in precaution, main hazards, IDD prevention day were 49.25%(197/400), 50.75%(203/400) and 36.50%(146/400) among women in rural areas and 75.44%(298/395), 80.25%(317/395) and 57.97%(229/395) among women in town areas, and the rates of women in rural areas were lower than those of women in town areas. The rate of consciously purchasing of qualified iodized salt was 51.75%(207/400) and the consumption rate of iodized salt was 36.75%(147/400) among women in rural areas, which were 73.42%(290/395) and 43.80%(173/395) among women in town areas, and the rates in rural areas were lower than those in town areas. Conclusions Before health education of IDD, the rate of IDD related knowledge in Xi’an City is poor, rural areas are lower than town areas. Health education project is effective in promoting the understanding and grasp of IDD knowledge.