THE MAIN AND INTERMEDIATE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO GOITER IN SOUTHERN JORDAN

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the problem of increased goiter among patients with hypothyroidism in southern Jordan and the lack of knowledge on the interacting clinical, behavioral, nutritional, and environmental factors that contribute to its severity. The objective of this study was to determine the main and intermediate causes of goiter in patients with hypothyroidism in some selected governmental hospitals in southern Jordan. A quantitative cross-sectional study design was employed using SmartPLS. The study sample comprised 200 patients with hypothyroidism at Al-Karak Governmental Hospital, Al-Tafilah Governmental Hospital, Ma’an Governmental Hospital, and Queen Rania Al Abdullah Hospital in Jordan. The findings showed that the severity of goiter was significantly related to thyroid follow-up behavior, lifestyle, and environmental exposure, medication compliance, family history, and dietary iodine practices, but not to health awareness. Additionally, the effects of the independent variables on goiter severity were significantly mediated by thyroid follow-up behavior, lifestyle, and environmental exposure. The study recommends improving the structured follow-up programs, promoting healthy lifestyle practices, enhancing the nutritional guidance, and increasing the integrated healthcare interventions to reduce the severity of goiter among hypothyroidism patients.