Predictors of Iodine Deficiency Preventive Behaviors in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Background: Iodine deficiency remains a significant public health concern, particularly for pregnant women who require increased iodine intake. Despite Thailand's national supplementation and monitoring efforts, certain areas, such as Uttaradit Province, continue to report urinary iodine levels below World Health Organization standards. Consequently, promoting preventive behaviors during pregnancy is essential. This study seeks to explore iodine deficiency preventive behaviors and identify predictive factors among pregnant women.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with pregnant women attending antenatal care in Uttaradit Province. The sample included 154 pregnant women aged 20 years or older, with a gestational age of 28 weeks or less. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and an instrument based on the Health Promotion Model, both of which demonstrated established content validity and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from .76 to .90. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression with the backward elimination method.

Results: Preventive behaviors against iodine deficiency were notably high (M = 24.64, SD = 2.64). Key predictors of these behaviors included commitment to action (β = .289, p < .01), interpersonal influences (β = .202, p < .05), and perceived self-efficacy (β = .159, p < .05). Together, these factors explained 25.5% of the variance (R² = .255).

Conclusion: Commitment to action, interpersonal influences, and self-efficacy emerged as significant predictors of preventive behaviors against iodine deficiency among pregnant women. Consequently, these factors should serve as the foundation for developing health promotion programs aimed at fostering appropriate and sustained preventive behaviors for iodine deficiency.