Knowledge about Iodine in Pregnant and Lactating Women in the Oslo Area, Norway
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Date
2017-05-13Metadata
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Garnweidner-Holme LMG, Aakre I, Lilleengen AM, Henjum S. Knowledge about Iodine in Pregnant and Lactating Women in the Oslo Area, Norway. Nutrients. 2017;494(9) http://doi.org/10.3390/nu9050493Abstract
Background: Lack of knowledge about iodine may be a risk factor for iodine deficiency
in pregnant and lactating women. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge about iodine
and predictors of iodine knowledge scores among pregnant and lactating women. The study
also examined whether iodine knowledge scores were associated with iodine status. Methods:
A cross-sectional study was performed on 804 pregnant women and 175 lactating women from
18 to 44 years of age in 2016 in the Oslo area, Norway. Knowledge about iodine was collected
through a self-administered, paper-based questionnaire. Iodine concentrations in urine and breast
milk were measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS). Results: 74%
of the pregnant women and 55% of the lactating women achieved none to low iodine knowledge
scores. Higher educated pregnant women and those who had received information about iodine
had significantly higher knowledge scores. In lactating women, increased age was associated with
higher knowledge scores. Knowledge scores were not associated with participants’ iodine status.
Conclusion: This study revealed a lack of knowledge about the importance of iodine in pregnant and
lactating women, as well as about the most important dietary sources. Public education initiatives
are required to increase the awareness about iodine in these population groups.
Publisher
MDPISeries
Nutrients;494(9)
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as © 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access
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