Effect of nutrition education on iodine deficiency disorders and iodized salt intake in south west Ethiopian women: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Agize Asfaw,Tefera Belachew,Taye Gari

doi:10.1186/s12905-020-01126-y

Agize Asfaw, Tefera Belachew + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-01126-y

Copy DOI

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough iodine nutrition status is improving globally, the progress is not uniform throughout the world due to several factors. Among these, poor knowledge, negative attitude and improper practice of iodized salt are the main risk factors for poor iodine nutrition in Ethiopia. This study was aimed to assess the effect of nutrition education intervention on knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of iodine deficiency and iodized salt utilization.MethodsA cluster randomized controlled trial was carried out among 652 women of reproductive age group in southwest Ethiopia. A total of 24 clusters were selected and randomized in to an intervention and control villages. Women in the intervention village received iodine nutrition related education for 6 months; while those in the control village did not receive any education. Baseline and endline data were collected from both groups. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) was used to determine the effect of intervention.ResultsA total of 647 (99.2%) participants were successfully involved in the study. In the intervention group the median attendance was 10 out of 12 sessions. Women in the intervention group had shown statistically significant change in knowledge, attitude and practice scores as compared to control one. In multivariable GEE linear model, after adjusting for other background characteristics, the mean difference (95% CI) scores were 8.81 (8.46, 9.16) for knowledge, 3.35 (3.17, 3.54) for attitude and 2.90 (2.74, 3.05) for practice in the intervention arm.ConclusionsWell designed and community-based iodine nutrition education is an effective strategy to improve the KAP of iodine deficiency disorders and iodized salt utilization.Trial registration PACTR201809544276357 (Retrospectively registered on 14, Sept. 2018).https://www.pactr.org.

Highlights

Iodine nutrition status is improving globally, the progress is not uniform throughout the world due to several factors
Socio‐economic and outcome variables at baseline Baseline data collected before the start of the intervention in 2016 showed that the two groups were comparable for both socioeconomic and outcome variables, except for age group and wealth category
The numbers of participants with poor and medium wealth status were higher in control (44.5% vs. 34.7%) and intervention (25.2% vs. 16.3%) groups respectively

Summary

Introduction

Iodine nutrition status is improving globally, the progress is not uniform throughout the world due to several factors. Poor knowledge, negative attitude and improper practice of iodized salt are the main risk factors for poor iodine nutrition in Ethiopia. This study was aimed to assess the effect of nutrition education intervention on knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of iodine deficiency and iodized salt utilization. Iodine nutrition status is improving from time to time. There has been steady progress in developed countries and urban settings. There has been minimal progress in rural areas of the developing countries like Africa. A great global effort is needed to achieve sustainable elimination of IDD in these iodine deficient areas and maintain the achievement for the decades to come in all countries

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion