Shazmeen Aslam
Thyroid gland is one of the most important organ of endocrine system which releases two important hormones, Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). The production of both of these hormones is regulated by Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) produced by the pituitary gland in brain. Hypothyroidism is a condition that arises due to the deficiency of thyroid hormones as they control many important functions of the body and regulates metabolism. In contrast, hyperthyroidism is due to the overproduction of thyroid hormones causing hormonal imbalance. Furthermore, Goiter is another thyroid disorder characterized by the enlargement of thyroid gland. This cross-sectional study is based on data collected from different universities of Karachi, Pakistan with the targeted sample size of 500 respondents. The questionnaire was designed to focus on the awareness and knowledge of thyroid disorders for which the participants were selected randomly in each university. The data analysis shows that about 60.9% of the respondents have heard about a thyroid disorder in their friends and family, particularly individuals between 20-25 years of age. About 46.6% of the female respondents and 21.2% male respondents know about TSH, while 25.4% female and 12.1% male respondents know about T3 and T4. Percentages of respondents who are completely unaware of TSH and, T3 and T4, are higher among males at 78.8% and 87.9% respectively. About 65.6% of female respondents are aware of the effect of thyroid disorders on psychological behavior, while only 38.4% male respondents are aware of this fact. Moreover, 62.6% female respondents and 86.9% male respondents are unaware of the fact that iodine deficiency is also one of the major causes of thyroid disorders like Goiter. It is therefore concluded that lack of knowledge and awareness of thyroid disorders, is a major cause of delay in diagnosis which results in long term prevalence incurring lifetime treatment, and subsequently increase its rate of incidence.
