Goiter survey and urinary Iodine concentration in school children aged 8 to 10 year of Kerman province in 1996

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) is a worldwide health problem. Many parts of the Islamic republic of Iran had been known as areas of endemic goiter. IDD was accepted as a priority health problem in the country, and a National IDD council was formed in 1989. Under the supervision of the ministry of health and medical education. One of the main strategies of national council for IDD control was to provide at least 150 µg of iodine per day to the entire population through making available iodized salt. This study was performed to evaluate the success rate national IDD council program in 1996, in rural and urban areas of Kerman province. 1350 schoolchildren, aged 8 to 10 year, including 50% girls and 50% boy, were selected through random sampling. Grading of goiter was performed according to WHO’s classification. Serum T3 and T4 were measured by RIA and urinary iodine by digestion method. The mean of serum T3 and T4 were: 9.0±1.6 µg/dl, 153±26 ng/dl respectively. There were no differences between males and females and schoolchildren of rural or urban areas. Five person had serum T4 more than 12.5 µg/dl. The mean urinary iodine was 27 µg/dl in entire population, 75% had urinary iodine more than 10 g/dl only 11% had urinary iodine less than 5 g/dl. Total prevalence of goiter was 58% in girls and 59% in boys. Based on the available data, seven years after generalized use of iodized salt and 2 years after that more than 50% of population used iodized salt, urinary iodine of the age group studied is in acceptable range of WHO. However this province was regarded a hyperendemic area in 1996.