Thyroid dysfunction and associated factors among Pregnant women at adama hospital medical college, east Shoa, oromia, ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Thyroid dysfunction is frequently a non-specific symptomatic condition during pregnancy. Thus, to minimize its disease consequence-associated with thyroid abnormality, mainly during pregnancy it is important to identify it promptly and grasp the factors that contribute to at the early stages. However, limited documented information exists on the prevalence and associated factors of thyroid dysfunction among pregnant women in Ethiopia especially in the study area. Objective: To determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and associated factors among pregnant women in Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, and Oromia, Ethiopia. Materials and methods: A hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was carried out on 290 study participants considering 1:1 ratio of pregnant and non-pregnant women who were enrolled using a consecutive sampling technique. Structured questionnaires employed to gather socio-demographic, medical and lifestyle information through face to face interviews and reviewing their medical files. Anthropometrics was measurements at Adama hospital medical college MICH and thyroid function test done at Adama Public Health Research and Referral Laboratory Center. The collected data were entered to Epi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 25 software. Statistical tests, including Chi-square test, independent sample t-test, binary logistic regression analysis, multivariate, were utilized for data analysis. Results: Out of the 290 study participants, 104(35.86%) had thyroid dysfunction, of which 63 (43.45%) being pregnant and 41(28.28%) being non-pregnant women. The chi-square test showed statistically significant associations between pregnancy and thyroid dysfunction (X 2 =7.256, p=.007), and stillbirths (X 2 =4.99, p=.025). Both TSH and T4 were showed a statistically significant difference among pregnant and non-pregnant women in the independent sample t-test (t=2.091, p=.037 and t=2.361, p=.019, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a family history of hypothyroidism had a statistical significance association with AOR of 3.399(95% CI: 1.414-8.170, p=.006), and inadequate iodized salt consumption was associated with an AOR of 1.494 (9 inadequate 5% CI: 0.197-1.237, p=.032). Conclusions: The study pointed out a higher prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among pregnant women, highlighting the necessity of prompt detection and treatment to mitigate adverse effects. Significant association with stillbirths, inadequate iodized salt consumption and family history of hypothyroidism call for prompt interventions for better maternal and fetal outcomes