Awareness of Thyroid Disorders and Newborn Screening in Primigravida - A Questionnaire-based Study

Aim: A questionnaire-based survey related to the knowledge of thyroid disorders and awareness of newborn screening (NBS) was conducted in primigravida. Subjects and Methods: A structured validated questionnaire was used for data collection in 122 primigravida admitted to private hospital (PH) and government hospital (GH), and the responses were analyzed. The subjects were categorized based on educational qualification as (≤10 th standard) Group I and (≥PUC) Group II, and the answers were compared. Results: From the listed symptoms, irregular menstruation, weight gain, tiredness, hair loss, weight loss, and changes in blood pressure were commonly identified by GH and PH patients. 49.4% of the subjects in Group II were aware that hypothyroidism was treatable, and 43.9% knew that the treatment would be life-long. 19.3% of Group II had undergone thyroid function tests before conception whereas 17.9% in Group I had never done so. Awareness on the use of iodized salt to prevent nutritional goiter (57.8% in Group II vs. 30.8% in Group I) and awareness of NBS (47% in Group II vs. 20.5% in Group II) increased with the level of education. 23.5% of Group II versus 16.6% of Group I voted for screening soon after birth. A large number of women from Group II (68.7%) were not aware of the effects of maternal hypothyroidism on the newborn. Conclusion: Education improves the awareness of thyroid disorders, the importance of NBS, and its benefits and is a major step in the prevention of congenital hypothyroidism.