Knowledge and awareness of rural adults regarding endemic goitre

Knowledge and awareness related to goitre is very much important at community level for its prevention. Goitre is an iodine deficiency disease, which is in endemic in northern part of Bangladesh. This is a community based cross-sectional study conducted in rural areas of Kaharol Upzilla of Dinajpur district from January to December 2018. Data were collected by face to face interview from one adult in each of the purposively selected 377 households and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The study result showed that mean age of the respondents was 36.85±12.36 years where most of the respondents (82.2%) were female and 42.7% were illiterate. All of the respondents (100.0%) of the present study knew that endemic goitre means visible swelling in front of the neck. The present study revealed that 24.9% knew that endemic goitre is caused by lack of iodine in diet and having adequate iodine in diet was a way to prevent endemic goitre and 69.2% knew which food contained iodine. Majority of the respondents (57.2%) new that iodized salt contains iodine. The present study revealed that 0.8% had good knowledge regarding endemic goitre, 50.1% had average knowledge regarding endemic goitre and 49.1% had poor knowledge regarding endemic goitre. Most of the respondents, (81.7%) considered iodine an important element for body and 69.5% took iodine rich food. Though, the respondents had positive awareness regarding use of iodized salt. Level of knowledge regarding endemic goitre was associated with age (p=0.001), educational status (p<0.000), occupational status (p<0.006). Community based awareness program among school children, clubs, housewife etc. may increase the knowledge on endemic goitre at community members.