Iodine deficiency in pregnant women in eastern Turkey (Malatya Province): 7 years after the introduction of mandatory table salt iodization.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the urinary I excretion of pregnant women in Malatya Province, eastern Turkey.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed on pregnant women in urban and rural settlements of Malatya Province.


METHODS
Urinary I excretion was measured for 824 pregnant women who were randomly selected using a probability-proportional-to-size sampling methodology.


RESULTS
Median urinary I concentration (UIC) of pregnant women was 77.4 microg/l. The percentage of pregnant women with UIC below 100 microg/l was 83.3.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that I deficiency disorders (IDD) is still a problem in Malatya Province and most certainly in other parts of the country. Proper monitoring of I content of the salt sold or used in the area, in order to strengthen the IDD intervention programme, is suggested.
Egri
Mucahit
M
Gaziosmanpasa University, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Tokat 60100, Turkey. megri@gop.edu.tr
Ercan
Cihan
C
Karaoglu
Leyla
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000652:urine*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine