Prevalence and Determinants of Goiter among 6-12 Years Children Residents of the Highland Area of Southern Tigray, Ethiopia.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.83407/nw5q2h95Keywords:
Goiter, Factors, Prevalence, Ordinal logistic regression, Highland areas of southern Tigray, EthiopiaAbstract
Background
Goiter is the enlargement of the thyroid glands caused by iodine deficiency, which affects the production of thyroid hormones. The primary cause of goiter is iodine deficiency (IDD). The highland populations are particularly susceptible to this disorder. This is because iodine was missing from the soil during flooding.
Objectives
This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with goiter grading among children aged 6-12 years old residents of highland areas in the southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia.
Methods
A cross-sectional study of 432 children was conducted using a stratified sampling method. Six health professionals and three supervisors, including the principal investigator, participated in the data-collection process. An interview with the mother or caregiver of the child was conducted based on a structured questionnaire, the iodine level of the household was measured
using Microbial Bioassay Iodine (MBI) test kit, and a goiter examination was conducted on the eligible child.
Results
The overall prevalence of goiter in this study was 144(33.3%). Of this, Grade 1 was 114(26.4%) and Grade 2 was 30(6.9%) patients. The prevalence was higher in females 76 (37.9 %) than in males 68 (31.8 %). Increment in child age (AOR=1.193, CI (1.052, 1.352)),
Not having a family history of goiter (AOR=0.403, CI (0.225, 0.723)), Poor mothers’ knowledge of IDD prevention (AOR=1.926, CI (1.107, 3.350)), Routine Cabbage consumption (AOR=2.143, CI (1.279, 3.590)), and increment in iodine Level of salt (AOR=0.370 (0.208, 0.659)) were significant predictors of goiter grading at a p-value of <0.05.
Conclusions
The overall prevalence of goiter in this study was 144(33.3%). Of this, Grade 1 was 114(26.4%) and Grade 2 was 30(6.9%) patients. The increment child's age, having a family history of goiter, Poor mother’s knowledge of the prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs), and Low iodine level of household salt were risk factors for goiter.
