Abstract:
Background: Iodine deficiency disorder remains the major public health problem in the world.
Globally, in 2017, 2 billion people suffer from iodine deficiency. In Africa, iodine deficiency
ranges from 15% to 86% in children aged 0 to 19 years 2017. About 38% and 12.4% of the
adolescents were found to be suffering from mild and moderate iodine deficiency respectively.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorder and associated factors among
school adolescents in Arba Minch town, Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia 2023.
Methods: A school based cross-sectional study were conducted among school adolescents in
Arba Minch town from May 8 – Jun 18. The study was done on sample of 650 students who
were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected from school
students by using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire using open data kit.
Physical examination and observation were done to assess thyroid gland enlargement. To assess
the presence of association multivariate logistic regression with p-value < 0.05 was used.
Results: The overall prevalence of goiter was 18.0% (CI: 95%, 0.17-0.24), in which about 15.8
and 2.2% had goiter grade 1 and grade 2, respectively. Being female (AOR= 1.72; 95% CI: 1.1,
2.7) were positively associated, educational status of the mother (illiterate with degree and above
AOR= of 4.25; 95% CI: 1.3,13.5), (informal educational status with degree and above AOR= of
6.95; 95% CI: 2.2, 21.4) and (secondary school educational status with degree and above AOR=
of 2.97; 95% CI: 1.1, 8.2) were negatively associated and family history of goiter (AOR: 2.25;
95% CI: 1.3, 3.8) were positively associated with iodine deficiency disorder among adolescents.
Conclusion: The prevalence of goitre is a mild public health problem among school adolescents
in Arba Minch town. Being a female, maternal educational status (illiterate, informal education
and secondary school educational status) and family history of goiter were significantly
associated with iodine deficiency disorders.
Description:
IODINE DEFICIENCY DISORDERS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS
AMONG SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN ARBA MINCH TOWN, GAMO
ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
