Investigation and analysis of knowledge and behavior of iodine deficiency disorders prevention and treatment among pregnant women in iodine deficiency areas in Anhui Province / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To understand the knowledge and behavior changes of pregnant women on iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) prevention and treatment in iodine deficiency areas in Anhui Province before and after the implementation of the intervention measures, and to provide a scientific basis for pregnant women's iodine nutrition improvement.Methods:From March to December 2018, from Lujiang County, an iodine deficiency area in Anhui Province, Lucheng and Nihe towns were selected as the survey sites. Relying on the township health centers, pregnant women in early pregnancy (≤12 weeks) were selected as the survey subjects, and long-term follow-up was conducted. The edible salt samples of pregnant women in early pregnancy were collected and salt iodine content was detected by direct titration method. The urine samples of pregnant women in the morning in early, middle (13 - 28 weeks) and late pregnancies (≥29 weeks) were collected, urinary iodine content was determined by arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry. Baseline questionnaire survey was conducted for pregnant women in early pregnancy, mainly including basic information, IDD prevention and treatment knowledge (pregnant women prone to iodine deficiency, the harm of iodine deficiency in pregnant women, suitable iodine supplement methods for pregnant women and foods with high iodine content), and the consumption frequency of iodine-rich foods. After the baseline survey, the knowledge publicity on IDD prevention and treatment was carried out in townships, and iodine-rich foods such as kelp and laver were recommended to supplement iodine. The intervention activities lasted for 6 months, and retrospective questionnaire survey was conducted on pregnant women in late pregnancy.Results:A total of 128 edible salt samples were collected from the families of pregnant women in early pregnancy, and the median salt iodine was 21.5 mg/kg. The iodized salt coverage rate was 99.2% (127/128), the qualified rate of iodized salt was 98.4% (125/127), and the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was 97.7% (125/128). A total of 129, 95 and 70 urine samples were collected from pregnant women in early, middle and late pregnancies, the medians urinary iodine were 179.0, 185.5 and 189.7 μg/L, respectively, all of which were at the appropriate iodine level. The total awareness rates of IDD prevention and treatment before and after intervention were 22.4% (28/125) and 64.6% (82/127), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 45.538, P < 0.01). Compared with the awareness rates before the intervention, the awareness rates of the harm of iodine deficiency in pregnant women, suitable iodine supplement methods for pregnant women and foods with high iodine content were all higher after the intervention ( P < 0.01). There were statistically significant differences in the frequency of eating kelp, laver and other iodine-rich foods among pregnant women in early, middle and late pregnancies (χ 2 = 163.170, 102.373, P < 0.01). Before the intervention, 57 (45.2%) pregnant women had not eaten kelp, which decreased to 1 (0.8%) pregnant woman after the intervention. Before the intervention, 72 (57.1%) pregnant women had not eaten laver and other iodine-rich foods, which decreased to 7 (5.5%) pregnant women after the intervention. Conclusions:After the intervention, the awareness rate of IDD prevention and treatment knowledge and the frequency and proportion of iodine-rich foods consumption among pregnant women in iodine deficiency areas in Anhui Province have increased significantly. It is recommended to carry out publicity and education on IDD prevention and treatment knowledge in early pregnancy.