# Low Iodine Nutrition Knowledge in Chinese Breastfeeding Women despite Adequate Iodine Status

## TL;DR

Chinese breastfeeding women have low iodine nutrition knowledge despite adequate iodine levels, suggesting a need for public health education.

## Contribution

This study provides new insights into iodine knowledge gaps among pregnant and lactating women in China.

## Key findings

- Most women did not consume enough iodine during pregnancy and lactation.
- Low iodine knowledge scores were observed, with education and iodized salt use linked to better knowledge.
- The study highlights a public health concern regarding iodine deficiency in newborns.

## Abstract

There has been a scarcity of evidence about iodine nutrition knowledge among women during pregnancy and lactation. The aim of this study was to determine women’s iodine knowledge and the relationship between knowledge and iodine status during pregnancy and lactation. Women were recruited from a hospital in the western part of China in the third trimester of pregnancy and followed until the end of the first week of lactation. The women’s iodine status was measured by their urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and an iodine-specific, validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Iodine nutrition knowledge was assessed using an iodine nutrition knowledge questionnaire. A total of 200 women (mean age of 29.0 ± 4.2 years) completed the whole study. The majority of the women did not consume enough iodine during both pregnancy and lactation (231.89 vs. 237.26 µg/day). The overall mean iodine knowledge scores in our sample of women during pregnancy and lactation were 4.77 and 4.87, indicating low iodine knowledge. The use of iodized salt and a higher education level were significantly associated with an increased iodine knowledge score. In conclusion, this study reported poor iodine nutrition knowledge in women, highlighting a public health concern. Therefore, the iodine knowledge of women should be improved, possibly via maternal health campaigns to avoid the consequences of iodine deficiency disorders in newborns.