ABSTRACT
Iodine deficiency causes a spectrum of diseases called iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), which affect all stages of life from early pregnancy to adulthood. (WHO) considers iodine deficiency to be “the only most important avertible cause of brain impairment” worldwide. The purpose of this survey is to find out and access the knowledge, attitude, and practice of iodine deficiency disorders among the Omani population in Muscat. A cross-sectional study was conducted. The total number of households surveyed was 70. A structured knowledge and practices questionnaire was used to collect data by using a Google Form, which was distributed online through social media to the local population. The statistics were combined with reference to information, mindset, and practices regarding IDD. Descriptive analysis and MS excel were used to present the data. In this study, most of the households were aware of the role of iodine in the body. The respondents’ education details and age were strongly interrelated with knowledge and attitude, though, the practice was not significantly interrelated with age and education. 50% of respondents do not know iodine deficiency causes preventable mental disorders. More than half of respondents (66.7%) had known about the role of iodine in the body and 37.7% of respondents obtained the common source of information being television and 13% through family and friends. It was found that more than half of respondents never took a thyroid hormonal test. While 21.4% take it every year and 12.9% every six months, even though 81.4% of the respondents agreed thyroid hormones are vital to the body and 14.3% responded with a NO. Appropriate knowledge about iodized salt and IDDs should be familiarized to all public education locations points. Curricula can be framed to enhance knowledge, attitude, and practice at the family level so that the consumption of satisfactory iodized salt can be certified to reduce iodine deficiency complications. Health education conferences on IDD and the benefits of iodized salt should be approved out with special attention on illiterate individuals.
KEYWORDS: MUSCAT (Oman); IODINE deficiency; EDUCATION conferences; VIRTUAL communities; ATTITUDE (Psychology); MENTAL illness; HEALTH education.
2023 – Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy