title: The effect of iodine-deficiency disorders on academic achievement of schoolchildren in Southern Ethiopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to assess the effect of iodine deficiency on academic achievement of schoolchildren in Wolaita Sodo town, Southern Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  School-based comparative cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary school in Sodo town, Southern Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample population of 270 children with goitre and 264 without goitre. All students in each class were examined for the presence of goitre and classified based on WHO recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among children with goitre, a higher proportion (54·8 %) was female and the proportion increased with age. The odds of scoring low on school performance was higher among children whose fathers were illiterate (adjusted OR = 1·9; 95 % CI 1·1, 3·5) and those who were absent for more than 5 d in the last academic year (adjusted OR = 1·5; 95 % CI 1·1, 2·3). Goitre was significantly associated with low academic achievement (adjusted OR = 1·8; 95 % CI 1·2, 2·5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that the presence of goitre has a negative effect on academic achievement even after accounting for parental education and absenteeism from school. Awareness of endemic goitre and its impact on school performance, and an emphasis on prevention and control by concerned bodies, are recommended to alleviate the problem.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Public Health, College of Medical and Health Science, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Eskinder
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolka
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Solomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiferaw
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Medical Science, Jimma University, PO Box 24414, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Sibhatu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biadgilign
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D004522:Educational Status; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students
chemical_list: D007455:Iodine