Knowledge of iodine nutrition in the South African adult population

Public Health Nutrition

PL Jooste¹  N Upson¹  KE Charlton¹ 

关键词: Iodine;    Knowledge;    Population;    Adults;    South Africa;   

DOI  :  10.1079/PHN2004696

学科分类：卫生学

来源: Cambridge University Press

【 摘 要 】

ObjectivesTo determine the level of knowledge regarding iodine nutrition and its relationship with socio-economic status in the South African population.DesignA cross-sectional population survey collecting questionnaire information on knowledge of iodine nutrition and sociodemographic variables in a multistage, stratified, cluster study sample, representative of the adult South African population.SettingHome visits and personal interviews in the language of the respondent.SubjectsData were collected from one adult in each of the selected 2164 households, and the participation rate was 98%.ResultsOnly 15.4% of respondents correctly identified iodised salt as the primary dietary source of iodine, 16.2% knew the thyroid gland needs iodine for its functioning, and a mere 3.9% considered brain damage, and 0.8% considered cretinism, as the most important health consequence of iodine deficiency. Compared with respondents from high socio-economic households, respondents from low socio-economic households were considerably less informed about aspects of iodine nutrition covered in this study.ConclusionsThe knowledge level of iodine nutrition is low among South Africans, particularly among the low socio-economic groups. These data suggest that the international emphasis on brain damage resulting from iodine deficiency has not been conveyed successfully to the consumer level in this country.

【 授权许可】

Unknown