Iodine Deficiency Disorder and Knowledge about Benefit and Food Source of Iodine among Adolescent Girls in the North Shewa Zone of Amhara Region

Background. As the dietary iodine content depends on the iodine contents of the soil where the crop is harvested, in highland areas where the iodine content of topsoil was washed away due to erosion, iodized salt is the main source of iodine. This study assessed the magnitude of iodine deficiency disorder and knowledge about the benefit and food sources of iodine among adolescent girls in the highland areas of the North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, central Ethiopia. Methods. An institutional cross-sectional study was conducted from October 5, 2018, to December 30, 2019. Through a multistage sampling technique, 625 adolescent school girls were selected from 9 schools. A pretested semistructured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Anthropometric measures and thyroid gland physical examinations were performed by trained nurses. The collected data were entered into the computer through Epi Data 3.1 software, and analysis was performed using Anthro plus and SPSS software. Results. The total goiter rate was 317 (50.7%) with 95%CI of 46.9% to 54.6%. Grade-one and grade-two goiter accounts 226 (36.2%) and 91 (14.6%), respectively. About one-third, 428 (68.5%), had knowledge about locally available iodine source foods and 309 (72.2%) of them mentioned salt as a source of iodine. Over half, 216 (55.1%), of 392 (62.7%) participants who had knowledge about the benefit of iodine knew it prevents goiter. Diet diversity score of <5 food groups [AOR 1.487, 95%CI 1.061–2.083], stunting [AOR 1.876, 95%CI 1.079–3.257], menstruation [AOR 1.615, 95%CI 1.110–2.349], rural residence [AOR 1.412, 95%CI 1.005–1.984], and open salt storage container [AOR 2.001, 95%CI 1.044–3.833] were significantly associated with goiter. Conclusions. Total goiter rate of adolescent school girls is high in the area. Low diet diversity score, stunting, menstruation, rural residence, and using an open container for salt storage increased the risk of goiter. In addition to universal salt iodization, the emphasis has to be given on proper handling and utilization of iodized salts at the household level to avoid iodine deficiency disorder in adolescent girls

Prevalence of antenatal depression and associated factors among pregnant women during COVID-19 pandemic in North Shewa zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia

Background: Antenatal depression is a form of depression that occurs during pregnancy. This problem may worsen during the COVID-19 epidemic and may result in serious consequences for pregnant women, including depression and other multiple psychosocial problems. However, the prevalence of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in pregnant women and its associated factors has not been studied in the study area, even in Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 pregnant women who were attending antenatal care in public health institutions in the North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. The data were collected from May 1- June 30, 2021. A logistic regression model with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and P-value < 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval was used to determine significantly associated factors. Results: The prevalence of antenatal depression among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic was 34.1% (95% CI: 29.6–38.9). Divorced marital status (AOR = 7.52, CI: 2.707–20.911), husband’s educational status “cannot read and write” (AOR = 4.05, CI: 1.834–8.962) and “can read and write without formal education” (AOR = 2.39, CI: 1.107–5.154) are statistically significant variables associated with depression among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: In this study, the prevalence of antenatal depression in pregnant women during the novel coronavirus pandemic was high. To reduce the level of depression in pregnant women, strategies have to be designed for the early detection of divorced pregnant women with inadequate social support and address enough information for pregnant women and their husbands about depression and COVID-19 during the pandemic