An Assessment of Causes of Incidents of Thyroid Diseases in Thyroid Patients at the Central Regional Referral Hospital in Cape Coast, Ghana

Since 1996 the Government of Ghana has been improving the quality and quantity of iodised salt, consumption of which eliminates iodine deficiency disorders. That notwithstanding, there are reports of increasing thyroid cases in hospitals. The study was to assess the causes of the thyroid diseases presented with at the Referral Hospital in Cape Coast, Ghana. Seventy (70) patients were interviewed to solicit information about iodine deficiency disorders. SPSS 21 statistical tool was used to analyze the responses. Majority of the respondents, 54, used iodised salt, whilst 21 of the cases were in the age bracket of 40-49 years. Superstition was cited as one of the causes of IDDs. The study revealed that all the respondents consumed goitrogens, and were also ignorant about Ghana’s mandatory salt iodisation law and iodine status test. State agencies must create awareness at the community level to address ignorance about iodine status test, the legislation and the scientific causes of iodine deficiency disorders