title: Iodine status in late pregnancy and psychosocial determinants of iodized salt use in rural northern Viet Nam.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish iodine status among pregnant women in rural northern Viet Nam and explore psychosocial predictors of the use of iodized salt in their households.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included pregnant women registered in health stations in randomly-selected communes in Ha Nam province. At recruitment (< 20 weeks of gestation), sociodemographic factors, reproductive health, intimate partner relationship, family violence, symptoms of common mental disorders and use of micronutrient supplements were assessed. During a second assessment (> 28 weeks of gestation) a urine specimen was collected to measure urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and iodized salt use was assessed. Predictors were explored through univariable analyses and multivariable linear and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 413 pregnant women who provided data for this study had a median UIC of 70 µg/l; nearly 83% had a UIC lower than the 150 µg/l recommended by the World Health Organization; only 73.6% reported using iodized salt in any form in their households. Iodized salt use was lower among nulliparous women (odds ratio, OR: 0.56; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.32-0.96); less educated women (OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.16-0.71); factory workers or small-scale traders (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.31-0.86), government workers (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.13-0.89) and women with common mental disorders at recruitment (OR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.38-0.98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decline in the use of iodized salt in Viet Nam since the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme was suspended in 2005 has placed pregnant women and their infants in rural areas at risk of iodine deficiency disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Australia 3168. jane.fisher@monash.edu
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Thach
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biggs
authors.forename: Tuan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Dang Hai
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Tho
authors.forename: Basil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hetzel
mesh_terms: D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D012424:Rural Population; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine
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