Goitre prevalence, urinary iodine and salt iodisation level in a district of West Bengal, India.
OBJECTIVE
We carried out a study to assess the prevalence of goitre, measure urinary iodine excretion (UIE) levels and to estimate salt iodine content at the household level in Howrah district of West Bengal, India.


METHODS



METHODS
This is a Cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in September-December 2006.


METHODS
Primary schools located in 30 clusters (villages and wards) randomly selected through 30 cluster sampling methodology.


METHODS
2400 school children, aged 8-10 years. Indicators: The indicators used in this study to assess for IDD were recommended by the WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD. Goitre was assessed clinically by the standard palpation technique. The urinary iodine excretion level was analyzed by the wet digestion method. Salt samples consumed at the household level were collected and tested by the spot iodine testing kit to measure iodine content.


RESULTS
The Total Goitre Rate (TGR) was 13.7% (95% CI = 12.3-15.1%). Grade 1 was 11.4% and Grade 2 (visible goitre) was 2.3%. The TGR was influenced by the age and sex factors but not by religion and residence. The median urinary iodine excretion level was 13 microg/dL (normal range: 10-20 microg/dL) and none had a value less than 5 microg/dL. There was significant negative correlation between UIE levels and the age and place of residence factors. Almost 80% of salt samples tested had adequate iodine content (>or= 15 ppm). Consumption of iodized salts was lower among Hindus and in rural area.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the Howrah district is in a transition phase from iodine deficiency to iodine sufficiency.
RG Kar Medical College, West Bengal, India. dilip_shampa@hotmail.com
Dilip Kumar
DK
Das
Indranil
I
Chakraborty
Akhil Bandhu
AB
Biswas
Indranil
I
Saha
Piyeanku
P
Mazumder
Sankar
S
Saha
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007455:Iodine / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000032:analysis* / Q000600:supply & distribution
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D007455:Iodine