Urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume of pregnant women attending antenatal care in two selected hospitals in Ashanti Region, Ghana: a comparative cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Iodine deficiency is a major public health problem affecting people worldwide, particularly pregnant women. Iodine requirements increase substantially during pregnancy making pregnant women vulnerable to iodine deficiency and its disorders such as abortions, stillbirths and pregn...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-018-1820-3 |
| _version_ | 1818199654907510784 |
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| author | Daniel Gyamfi Yaw Amo Wiafe Kwabena Owusu Danquah Ernest Adankwah Gertrude Akua Amissah Angela Odame |
| author_facet | Daniel Gyamfi Yaw Amo Wiafe Kwabena Owusu Danquah Ernest Adankwah Gertrude Akua Amissah Angela Odame |
| author_sort | Daniel Gyamfi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Iodine deficiency is a major public health problem affecting people worldwide, particularly pregnant women. Iodine requirements increase substantially during pregnancy making pregnant women vulnerable to iodine deficiency and its disorders such as abortions, stillbirths and pregnancy goitre as well as congenital abnormalities, cretinism and mental retardation in their children. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of iodine deficiency and goitre among pregnant women attending antenatal sessions at two selected hospitals in Ashanti region, Ghana. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in 239 pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Hospital or Ejura District Hospital, both in Ashanti Region, Ghana. Socio-demographic data and information related to iodine were captured using a questionnaire. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was determined on spot urine samples using the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction with ammonium persulfate as digesting agent. Each woman’s thyroid volume was also measured by ultrasonography. Results The overall median UIC was 155.9 μg/L, indicating adequate iodine intake in the study population. However, goitre prevalence in the pregnant women was 11.3%, denoting mild iodine deficiency. The median UIC for pregnant women who attended KNUST Hospital was higher (163.8 μg/L) than that of Ejura District Hospital (149.0 μg/L). The proportion of women who did not consume iodised salt was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in Ejura District Hospital (71.2%) than KNUST Hospital (28.0%). In total, 47.3% of the pregnant women studied had a UIC < 150 μg/L. Only 16.3% knew about the increase in iodine requirement during pregnancy and 21.3% of them had knowledge of the effects of iodine deficiency during pregnancy with most (81.8%) knowing of pregnancy goitre. Conclusion There is generally adequate iodine intake among the pregnant women, however, iodine deficiency and goitre still exist among some pregnant women. Thus, assessment and continuous monitoring of iodine nutritional status in pregnant women in the country are warranted. Also, intensification of effective public health campaigns (through radio and television) with regard to iodine utilization and its benefits in pregnancy are still recommended among Ghanaian pregnant women. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T02:25:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bb0dfdc736914768a2451c26e0482d51 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T02:25:12Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb0dfdc736914768a2451c26e0482d512022-12-22T00:41:35ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932018-05-011811910.1186/s12884-018-1820-3Urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume of pregnant women attending antenatal care in two selected hospitals in Ashanti Region, Ghana: a comparative cross-sectional studyDaniel Gyamfi0Yaw Amo Wiafe1Kwabena Owusu Danquah2Ernest Adankwah3Gertrude Akua Amissah4Angela Odame5Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Sonography, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Sonography, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Iodine deficiency is a major public health problem affecting people worldwide, particularly pregnant women. Iodine requirements increase substantially during pregnancy making pregnant women vulnerable to iodine deficiency and its disorders such as abortions, stillbirths and pregnancy goitre as well as congenital abnormalities, cretinism and mental retardation in their children. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of iodine deficiency and goitre among pregnant women attending antenatal sessions at two selected hospitals in Ashanti region, Ghana. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in 239 pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Hospital or Ejura District Hospital, both in Ashanti Region, Ghana. Socio-demographic data and information related to iodine were captured using a questionnaire. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was determined on spot urine samples using the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction with ammonium persulfate as digesting agent. Each woman’s thyroid volume was also measured by ultrasonography. Results The overall median UIC was 155.9 μg/L, indicating adequate iodine intake in the study population. However, goitre prevalence in the pregnant women was 11.3%, denoting mild iodine deficiency. The median UIC for pregnant women who attended KNUST Hospital was higher (163.8 μg/L) than that of Ejura District Hospital (149.0 μg/L). The proportion of women who did not consume iodised salt was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in Ejura District Hospital (71.2%) than KNUST Hospital (28.0%). In total, 47.3% of the pregnant women studied had a UIC < 150 μg/L. Only 16.3% knew about the increase in iodine requirement during pregnancy and 21.3% of them had knowledge of the effects of iodine deficiency during pregnancy with most (81.8%) knowing of pregnancy goitre. Conclusion There is generally adequate iodine intake among the pregnant women, however, iodine deficiency and goitre still exist among some pregnant women. Thus, assessment and continuous monitoring of iodine nutritional status in pregnant women in the country are warranted. Also, intensification of effective public health campaigns (through radio and television) with regard to iodine utilization and its benefits in pregnancy are still recommended among Ghanaian pregnant women.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-018-1820-3Iodine deficiencyExcessive iodine intakePregnant womenThyroid volumeGoitre |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Gyamfi Yaw Amo Wiafe Kwabena Owusu Danquah Ernest Adankwah Gertrude Akua Amissah Angela Odame Urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume of pregnant women attending antenatal care in two selected hospitals in Ashanti Region, Ghana: a comparative cross-sectional study BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Iodine deficiency Excessive iodine intake Pregnant women Thyroid volume Goitre |
| title | Urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume of pregnant women attending antenatal care in two selected hospitals in Ashanti Region, Ghana: a comparative cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume of pregnant women attending antenatal care in two selected hospitals in Ashanti Region, Ghana: a comparative cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume of pregnant women attending antenatal care in two selected hospitals in Ashanti Region, Ghana: a comparative cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume of pregnant women attending antenatal care in two selected hospitals in Ashanti Region, Ghana: a comparative cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume of pregnant women attending antenatal care in two selected hospitals in Ashanti Region, Ghana: a comparative cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume of pregnant women attending antenatal care in two selected hospitals in ashanti region ghana a comparative cross sectional study |
| topic | Iodine deficiency Excessive iodine intake Pregnant women Thyroid volume Goitre |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-018-1820-3 |
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