الفهرس 
Physiological Changes during PregnancyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Pregnancy is one of the most important periods in life when increased micronutrients, and macronutrients are needed by the body; both for the health and well being of the mother and for the growing fetus and newborn child (Darnton-Mkparu, 2015).
Iodine is an essential micronutrient which forms a vital component of the thyroid hormones thyroxin and tri-iodothyronine, which are crucial regulators of the metabolic rate and physical and mental development of humans. Thyroid hormones play a major role in the growth, development, function and maintenance of the central and peripheral nervous system (Prado and Dewey, 2014).
Iodized salt, fish (marine), seaweed, shellfish, and eggs are the main sources of dietary iodine in humans, iodine deficiency affects all ages (in utero to the elderly); however, children younger than 3 years, women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and lactating women are particularly susceptible. Severe iodine deficiency within population results in various disorders ranging from endemic goiter, hypothyroidism, cretinism, decreased fertility rates, increased rates of spontaneous abortion,
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increased infant mortality, and mental retardation mild or asymptomatic maternal hypothyroidism can also cause neuro cognitive and psychomotor deficits in the off spring (Berg et al., 2017).
Iodine deficiency disorders are characterized most commonly by hypothyroidism, goiter, mental deficiency, deaf mutism, spastic diplegia, neurological defects, impaired mental function in children and adults, increased stillbirths or spontaneous abortions and peri natal and infant mortality. The principal aetiological factor in the development of IDD is inadequate intake of iodine (Anees et al., 2015)
Aim of the study:
The Aim of this study was to asses pregnant woman’s awareness regarding iodine deficiency.
Research question:
Are pregnant women aware about iodine deficiency?
Research design:
A descriptive study design was used.
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Technical design:
Setting:
The study was conducted at antenatal outpatient clinic at Central Toukh Hospital, Qalyubia.
Subject:
Sample type: Purposive sample
Sample size: 350 from total flow rate of pregnant women attended at antenatal outpatient clinic at Central Toukh Hospital at year (2018-2019) was 4000.
Tools of data collection:
Part 1:
This part was designed to assess the study sample general characteristic eg; (age of the pregnant women, place of residence, educational level, and occupation if present).
Part 2:
This part include woman’s past and current medical & obstetric history.
Part 3:
To asses knowledge of pregnant women regarding iodine deficiency which composed of 5 closed ended
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questions eg (Can iodine deficiency cause growth retardation for children?) and 21 multiple choice questions as (iodine is important to).
Results:
Results of this study showed that:
Regarding to the general characteristics of the study sample, the current study revealed that more than half of the study sample aged between 20-30 years, about one half had high level of education and about two third of them their income > 1000 pound/month. Regarding living place, more than three quarter of studied sample living in rural area, and more than half of them had married from 5-<10 years, while more than three quarter of study sample weren’t working.
- Regarding current medical &obstetric history of the study sample the current study had demonstrated that the majority of the studied sample didn’t have any current medical problems while few of them had hypothyroidism and another few have thyroid hyperactivity.
Concerning pregnancy problems, the majority of the studied sample haven’t problems while few of them have gestational hypertension. regarding number of previous labors, about one half of the studied sample have two
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previous labors and few of them have four previous labors, also this table had revealed that all the studied sample were in the first trimester and the majority of them were 12 wks gestation, concerning using drugs for treatment of iodine deficiency disorders, the majority of the studied sample didn’t use any drugs but few of them use (eltroxin and propylthiouracil).
Concerning source of knowledge about iodine, the majority of the studied sample have not any previous knowledge about iodine, while (4.6%) of them have knowledge from family, (10.8%) their source of knowledge about iodine were the internet, (3.1%) have knowledge from friends and finally (3.4%) of the studied sample source of knowledge were the health care provider.
Regarding the total knowledge of the study sample about iodine deficiency the current study revealed that more than three quarter of the studied sample had unsatisfactory knowledge while about one quarter had satisfactory knowledge.
A statistically significance relation was found between studied sample general characteristics and their total level of knowledge regarding iodine deficiency.
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There were no statistical significant relation between the studied sample total level of knowledge regarding iodine deficiency and their source of knowledge about iodine.
Conclusion:
According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that:
More than three quarters of the studied sample weren’t aware about iodine deficiency disorders and about one quarter of them were aware about it. Two third of pregnant women didn’t know the importance of iodine. Most of the studied sample knew the accurate time to take heel blood sample to the newborn. There were many factors that affected the total knowledge of the study sample regarding iodine deficiency disorders including; general characteristics as (place of residence, level of education and age differences) and obstetric history. In addition there were statistical significant relation between studied sample general characteristics and their total level of knowledge about iodine deficiency disorders.
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Recommendations:
In the light of these findings the following are recommended:
Strategies should include nutritional educational programs for pregnant women to improve their knowledge regarding iodine deficiency.
Educational programs should be arranged to pregnant women at antenatal visits about diet rich with iodine.
A suggestion for further study is to assess the iodine status of pregnant women which could include the determination of Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) levels as recommended by WHO.