Iodine deficiency and women’s health:  Colonialism’s malign effect on health  in Oromia region, in Ethiopia

Dugassa, Begna

doi:10.4236/health.2013.55127

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…IDD is a serious health problem whose effects are most severe during pregnancy and childhood. During pregnancy it can result in stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, congenital abnormalities and intellectual dysfunction including cretinism and irreversible physical disabilities [6]. Among children it is associated with high mortality and causes intellectual dysfunction and brain damage as a result of low thyroid hormone production and subsequent impairment of brain development [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress and challenges in eliminating iodine deficiency in Ethiopia: a systematic review

Gebretsadikan

Troen

2016

BMC Nutr

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Background: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and their attendant effects on human development, perinatal mortality and intellectual dysfunction are a major nutrition and public health problem worldwide, with Ethiopia counted among the top iodine-deficient countries. Despite the passing of new legislation in 2011 under the National Nutrition Programme and subsequent increase in the availability of iodized salt, the eradication of IDD in Ethiopia remains a significant challenge. This paper critically reviews the recent published data on iodine-status in Ethiopia as a basis for formulating future research and policy initiatives. Methods: We performed a structural search for IDD studies in Ethiopia for all population groups published after the year 2000. Results: Twenty four studies reported national and regional data giving a national total goiter rate above 35.8 % in women, with rates close to 60 % in four regional states, and an estimated prevalence of IDD ranging from 0.4 to 66.3 % depending on region. The prevalence of goiter in children was 35 %, but was as high as 71 % in the South Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region. The problem persists despite the widespread availability of iodized salt. Conclusions: Eradicating IDD in Ethiopia will require concerted efforts including the close evaluation of intervention programs through regular, nation-wide monitoring of IDD and salt-iodization coverage. Salt iodization became mandatory in Ethiopia in 2011 and despite significant progress, the current level of eradicating IDD could be improved. Prospective and controlled intervention studies to evaluate biomarkers of thyroid function and cognitive outcomes will help to monitor and improve eradication efforts. Ascertaining and improving health and development in the most vulnerable populations of women and children is a priority that may be advanced through a greater investment in outreach and education.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress and challenges in eliminating iodine deficiency in Ethiopia: a systematic review

Gebretsadikan

Troen

2016

BMC Nutr

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“…The consequences of iodine deficiency disorder are most severe during pregnancy and childhood. During pregnancy, IDD can result in stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, congenital abnormalities, cretinism, and irreversible physical disabilities (Dugassa 2013). However, in children, it causes intellectual dysfunction, brain damage, and improper brain development (Mezgebu 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Urinary Iodine Excretion to Assess Iodine Deficiency Disorder among Pregnant Women in District Hospital of Sindhupalchowk, Nepal

Singh¹,

Joshi

Gurung³

et al. 2020

Nepal Journal of Science and Technology

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Pregnant women and infants are risk populations of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Therefore, this study was designed to explore the status of IDD among pregnant women through the analysis of urinary iodine excretion (UIE). A total of 94 pregnant women from Chautara Hospital Sindhupalchowk were included to analyze UIE through Sandell-Kolthoff Reaction. Although the general clinical status of women was satisfactory, the urinary iodine excretion revealed that still, 18.0 percent of pregnant women in Sindhupalchowk had insufficient iodine intake. This indicates that pregnant women are still at risk of iodine deficiency disorder, and they should be in the priority population for the IDD prevention program.

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“…The Ethiopian government policy makers knowingly compromised the needs of the Oromo people. This was manifested in the higher illiteracy level, poverty, persistent famine and widespread, easily preventable infectious diseases (Dugassa, 2009) and nutritional deficiencies (Dugassa, 2013). Denying people the right to decide on their social, economic, political, political and environmental affairs creates unhealthy social conditions and increases their vulnerability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collective Violence and Public Health: The Experience of the Oromo People in Ethiopia

Dugassa¹

2017

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Background: For over a hundred and fifty years, consecutive Ethiopian regimes have perpetuated collective violence against the Oromo people. During those years, the Oromo people have been denied their collective rights i.e. the right to decide on their social, economic, political, cultural and environmental affairs. Objectives: In this paper, I explore the ways collective violence and the denial of the collective right of the Oromo people has hindered the development of better public health conditions. Methods: In this paper, using the WHO definition of health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" and collective violence as "the instrumental use of violence by people who identify themselves as members of a group, whether this group is transitory or has a more permanent identity, against another group or set of individuals, in order to achieve political, economic or social objectives" as the framework of thinking explore the relationships between collective violence and the under-development of public health conditions. Finding: The core functions of public health are assessing social conditions that contribute to health and diseases, developing healthy policies, widening people's choices in life and assuring their implementation. The optimum development of public health can be achieved if societies continuously strive to prevent diseases through the promotion of healthy social policies. Collective violence and the violation of collective rights hinder the social, economic, political, cultural and environmental capacity of the Oromo people. This impairs the development of public health. Conclusion: Collective violence and the violation of collective rights are profoundly contrary to the objective of a public health agenda. The prevention of collective violence and promotion of collective rights should be seen as an essential condition necessary to the development of the social, economic, political, cultural and environmental capacity of the Oromo people and the development of public health conditions.

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Iodine deficiency and women’s health: Colonialism’s malign effect on health in Oromia region, in Ethiopia

Cited by 4 publications

References 47 publications

Progress and challenges in eliminating iodine deficiency in Ethiopia: a systematic review

Progress and challenges in eliminating iodine deficiency in Ethiopia: a systematic review

Determination of Urinary Iodine Excretion to Assess Iodine Deficiency Disorder among Pregnant Women in District Hospital of Sindhupalchowk, Nepal

Collective Violence and Public Health: The Experience of the Oromo People in Ethiopia

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