Determination of iodine nutrition and community knowledge regarding iodine deficiency disorders in selected tribal blocks of Orissa, India.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the status of iodine nutrition and knowledge of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in selected tribal mountainous blocks of Orissa, India.


METHODS
A community-based survey was performed, adopting the 30-cluster sampling and surveillance methodology for assessment of IDD recommended by WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD.


METHODS
School-age children (6-12 years) and their mothers.


METHODS
Total goitre rate (n=623) and urinary iodine excretion of children (n=530), iodine content in edible salt (n=505) and water (n=21) were measured. Community knowledge regarding IDD and awareness of iodized salt (n 20) was assessed.


RESULTS
Total goitre rate was 23.6%, of which visible goiter was 6.9%. Prevalence of goiter increased with age in female and tribal children. Median urinary iodine was 38 Cmicro.Tl(-1) and 51.7% of children had urinary iodine values <100 pmicrogtl(-1) The mean iodine content for drinking water ranged from 1.22-3.6 pmicro.Tl(-1) Only 9.9% of salt samples had adequate iodine content (> or =5 ppm). Over 80% of respondents did not have knowledge of IDD and were not aware of salt iodization.


CONCLUSIONS
Study results show moderate iodine deficiency with poor community knowledge of iodine nutrition. There is need to strengthen the monitoring of salt iodization and intensive education activities in the tribal areas.
Bulliyya
G
G
Regional Medical Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, India. bulliyyag@rediffmail.com
Dwibedi
B
B
Mallick
G
G
Sethy
P G S
PG
Kar
S K
SK
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine