Effect of Nutrition Education Intervention about Iodine Deficiency Disorders and Iodized Salt Intake on Mothers performance

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Community Health Nursing department, Faculty of Nursing, Port Said University

2 Assistant Professors of Community Health Nursing department, Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Iodine deficiency is the world's single greatest cause of preventable mental
retardation in developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition
education intervention about iodine deficiency disorders and iodized salt intake on mothers
performance. A quasi-experimental design was used in this study. The study was conducted at six
maternal and child health centers in Zagazig City (Shaybah Al-Nakariah, Shabanat, Bahnbay, Al-
Nakhas, Shambara Al-Maimuna, and Al-Aslouji). Sampling: Sample composed of 125 mothers
were selected randomly from maternal and child health centers. Three tools were used to collect the
necessary data for achieving the study objective: An interviewing questionnaire to assess socio-
demographic characteristics, knowledge about iodized salt and iodine deficiency disorders’ scale,
attitude, and practices related to iodine. Results: all the mothers’ had got satisfactory knowledge,
positive attitude and adequate practice (100%, 100%, & 99.2%) post intervention versus pre
intervention( 6.4%, 20%, & 30.4%) respectively with highly statistically significant differences
which continued 3 months later. Moreover, in a multivariate analysis, statistically significant
independent positive predictors of the mothers’ practice scores related to iodine salt and iodine
deficiency disorders were their intervention, education, income, knowledge score, and attitude score.
Conclusion: This study revealed that the educational intervention was highly statistically significant
positive effect on the studied mothers’ performance (knowledge, practice & attitudes). Therefore, it
is recommended that educational nursing intervention about iodine deficiency disorders and iodized
salt intake should be provided periodically and continually to all mothers attending MCH Centers by
qualified health professionals.

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