Prevalence of goiter and its determinants among children ages of 6 to 12 years in assosa town, Benishangul-gumuz regional state, North West Ethiopia.

Abstract

ackground: Iodine-deficiency disorders (IDDs) are major public health problems in Ethiopia. Since the distribution of the problem varies from one region to another, in order to undertake control programs baseline information needs to be established regionally. Objective: To assess prevalence of goiter and its determinants among children of ages 6 to 12 years in Assosa town, Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia. Method: A cross sectional community-based study was conducted in the town from May 18-28 /2012 GC. In order to determine prevalence of goiter, iodine content of salt and knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers on iodine deficiency disorders (goiter), a sample size of 395 children aged from 6 to 12 years and the respective households from which the eligible children selected were used. For this study proportional allocation of the sample size to each individual kebele was used. Data was collected with a total of 8 trained data collectors (4 experienced nurses & 4 grade 12th or 10th completed individuals) and accordingly goiter grade was determined (classified) by one public health officer. Goiter was classified based on the WHO /UNICEF/International Council for the Control of IDD, while, iodine content of salt determined by RIT. Standard Questionnaires were used & Data was cleaned, coded, entered to computer using SPSS version-16 software, summary statistics, Univariate analysis followed by multivariate analysis.. Result: For this study the prevalence of goiter was (104) 26.3% (male = 55 (26.7%), female = 49 (25.9%)). Of the total prevalence; 62 (15.7%) had palpable, while 42 (10.6%) visible. 322 (81.5%) of HHs in the town utilized salt that were below the set standard for salt iodine level (<15ppm). 302 (76.5%) of mothers (food caterers) replied to have some information (heard) about iodized salt, iodine or IDD (goitre); 239 (60.5%) of mothers had favourable attitude towards iodized salt; 14(3.6%) of mothers had improper practice on exposure of salt to the sun light and 86 (21.9%) had improper practice on salt adding time. Factors significantly associated with children’s goiter were; iodized salt use OR 2.103, 95%CI [1.013-4.367], family income OR 1.929, 95%CI [1.017-3.658], age of children OR 0.454, 95%CI [0.271-0.761] and residence (kebele) OR 3.116, 95%CI [1.480-6.560]. Conclusions and recommendation: prevalence of children’s goiter is high, iodized salt utilization status of households is very low together with limited knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers on iodized salt in Assosa town. Thus, reinforcing the laws that ban the marketing of non iodized salts (universal iodization of salt), awareness raising programs might increase the demand for iodized salt of the local community.