A Comparative Study on the Prevalence of Thyroid Disorders among Residents of a Tribal and Rural Area of Salem District, Tamil Nadu

Vijayakarthikeyan M; Arul Prakash S; Prema Priya G; Angayarkanni P

Vijayakarthikeyan M Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospitals, Salem, Affiliated to Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation, India
Arul Prakash S Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospitals, Salem, Affiliated to Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation, India
Prema Priya G Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospitals, Salem, Affiliated to Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation
Angayarkanni P Postgraduate, Department of Community Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar, Karnataka, Affiliated to Sri Devaraj Academy of Higher Education and Research

Keywords: Iodine, Micronutrient, Goitre, Diet

Abstract

Introduction: An important contributing factor to thyroid dysfunction is an iodine shortage in the diet. Thyroid diseases remain common in this post-iodisation period even after 30 years of implementation of Universal Salt Iodisation (USI).
Objectives:
1. To determine the thyroid disorder prevalence in the Salem district’s
rural and tribal populations
2. To explore the risk factors for thyroid disorders in the Salem
district’s rural and indigenous populations
Materials and Methods: 400 inhabitants of the Salem district (200 from each of the rural and tribal areas) participated in the community- based analytical cross-sectional study. A pre-tested, semi-structuredquestionnaire was used to gather data. The amount of iodine in the salt sample was measured using a Rapid Diagnostic Kit (MBI Kit). Blood samples were collected in order to assess the thyroid condition. The study variables were described using both descriptive and analytical statistics.
Results: Nearly 33% in the tribal area and 24% in the rural area had any form of thyroid disorder. The most common was subclinical hypothyroidism (rural: 12.4% vs tribal: 18%). Findings of the bivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the female sex (rural AOR: 2.15 vs tribal AOR: 3.71) and usage of inadequately iodised salt (rural AOR: 4.89 vs tribal AOR: 4.18) were significantly associated with thyroid disorders in both the population.
Conclusion: A multifaceted strategy including legislative, administrative, and educational initiatives must be put in place to curb this menace. It is imperative to implement effective communication techniques and provide education involving interested stakeholders at all levels.

How to cite this article:
Vijayakarthikeyan M, Prakash S A, Priya G P,
Angayarkanni P. A Comparative Study on the
Prevalence of Thyroid Disorders among Residents
of a Tribal and Rural Area of Salem District, Tamil
Nadu. Chettinad Health City Med J. 2025;14(1):4-
11.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2278.2044.202502

References

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Medicare Coverage of Routine Thyroid Screening; Stone MB,

Wallace RB. Medicare coverage of routine screening for thyroid dysfunction. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2003. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Kumar KV, Patnaik SK. Incidence of endocrine disorders in Indian adult male population. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Nov-Dec;21(6):809-11. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]