Abstract
BackgroundPregnancy is associated with parallel increase in both iodine, and thyroid hormone requirements suggesting that, there may be the need for additional iodine intake during this period to prevent potential iodine insufficiency. Medically, an excess or reduced intake of this micronutrient has negative effects on the individual’s health. This study aimed at identifying the pattern of iodine levels among pregnant women at Kissi, Ghana.MethodA cross-sectional study was carried out among pregnant women on antenatal care at Kissi Health Centre (KHC) which serves the rural town with a population of about 4,500, located in the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem (KEEA) municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. Demographic information, iodated salt usage and other pertinent information such as tobacco use were captured using a questionnaire. In addition, urine iodine concentration was estimated through the Ammonium per sulfate method after collecting on-the-spot urine samples.ResultsPrevalence of iodine deficiency in pregnant women was 42.5 %. Of the 80 participants who were on iodized salt, only 16.25 % had mild iodine deficiency with none suffering from moderate or severe iodine deficiency. Of the 40 participants who did not use iodized salt, 35 %, 30 %, and 30 % suffered from severe, moderate and mild iodine deficiency respectively.ConclusionThe high prevalence of iodine deficiency reported in this study suggests that urgent national measures are required to correct iodine insufficiency in pregnant women in these communities.
Highlights
Pregnancy is associated with parallel increase in both iodine, and thyroid hormone requirements suggesting that, there may be the need for additional iodine intake during this period to prevent potential iodine insufficiency
Of the 80 participants who were on iodized salt, only 16.25 % had mild iodine deficiency with none suffering from moderate or severe iodine deficiency
The high prevalence of iodine deficiency reported in this study suggests that urgent national measures are required to correct iodine insufficiency in pregnant women in these communities
Summary
Pregnancy is associated with parallel increase in both iodine, and thyroid hormone requirements suggesting that, there may be the need for additional iodine intake during this period to prevent potential iodine insufficiency. Iodine plays a vital role in the synthesis of thyroid hormone which subsequently exert effects on different organs and organ systems and is essential in the development of the central nervous system (CNS) during embryonic and foetal life [2] This suggests that iodine is an essential micronutrient. The elementary pathology emanating from iodine deficiency had rested on endemic goiter [2], but studies in Simpong et al Archives of Public Health (2016) 74:8 recent times have demonstrated a wide spectrum of disorders caused by iodine deficiency during pregnancy These include stillbirth, increased number of spontaneous abortion, hearing defect in infants, congenital abnormalities, attention-deficit syndrome, irreversible mental retardation, impaired psychomotor development, and behavioral disorders [2, 4]. This study was aimed at identifying the pattern of iodine levels during pregnancy so as to generate data that would subsequently inform health policy makers about the effectiveness of the universal salt iodization (USI) program in Ghana
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