[Effect of environmental supplementation of iodine on infant mortality and growth in children in Xinjiang, China].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of iodine supplementation on infant mortality and growth in Xinjiang.


METHODS
Urine iodine, height and head circumference (HC) of children aged 5 years in two townships was measured before and yearly after iodine supplementation of irrigation water. Height and HC were expressed as Z scores (United States children used as the reference group). Neonatal and infant mortality rates were obtained from official records in three counties from 1988 to 1999, and analyzed by a logistic regression model.


RESULTS
The odds ratio of infant mortality decreased 56.49% and neonatal mortality 65.71% respectively after iodination; there was no significant difference in the odds ratio of infant or neonatal mortality between experimental and control areas without iodination. In Langru township, the mean height of 5 year-old children increased from 95 cm in 1992 to 106.9 cm in 1998 - 1999, and HC from 48.4 cm to 50.5 cm. Median urine iodine increased from <10 to 176 micro g/L. In Bakechi township, mean height increased from 91 cm in 1993 to 106.5 cm in 1998 - 1999, HC from 48.7 to 49.6 cm, and median urine iodine from 39 to 138 micro g/L.


CONCLUSIONS
In Xinjiang, adequate iodine treatment markedly decreased infant and neonatal mortality, and largely preventing stunting of height and HC in children.
Ren
Qiang
Q
Institute of Population Research, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China.
Gr
DeLong
D
Cao
Xueyi
X
Wang
Shaohua
S
Jiang
Xinmin
X
Jiang
Jiyong
J
Ma
Erdang
E
O'Donnell
Karen
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends; D007455:Iodine / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D007455:Iodine