Factors Affecting Urinary Iodine Concentration of Pregnant Women Attending the Antenatal Care Clinic

Abstract

Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is a serious public health problem.

Purposes : To identify factors affecting the urinary iodine concentration in pregnant women.

Methods : This analytical study The participants were 184 pregnant women who were attending the antenatal care clinics in Srinagarind Hospital and Khon Kaen Hospital. The general characteristics of the subjects and their knowledge and beliefs about iodine were collected using a structured questionnaire. Iodine in- take was assessed by using a semi-quantitative food frequency
questionnaire. Spot urine samples were collected for the determination of urinary iodine concentra- tions (UIC). Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors affecting urinary iodine concentration (<150 µg/L) and iodine intake (<200 µg/day).

Results : The mean age of the subjects was 26.3 ± 6.6 years, about a quarter of them had completed a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification, and their median family income was 15,000 baht/month. In 45% of the subjects, there was a low level of knowledge about iodine, but 70% responded with moderately levels of accurate beliefs about functions, sources and properties of iodine. The median of dietary iodine intake was 185.2 µg/day, and 58% had a iodine intake below 200 µg/day. According to WHO recommendation for iodine intake, 75% of the subjects had dietary iodine intake below 250 µg/day. The median of UIC in the pregnant women was 127.5 µg/L, and 59% of the subjects had an UIC below the cut-offs for adequate iodine status (<150µg/L). The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that there were no statistically significant factors