Awareness of Pregnant Women Regarding Iodine Deficiency

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, 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).