Abstract
This study was designed to assess the iodine and the anthropometric status of primary school children in a rural Nigerian community (Obukpa). Stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents for the study. The sample size was 330 children aged 6 to 12+ years. The anthropometric measurements of the children comprising 170 boys and 160 girls were obtained using standard procedures. The urine of a sub-sample of 36 children were subjected to laboratory analysis for iodine using “method H”. Data generated from this study were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 12, means, standard deviation, student t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation coefficient (r) values. Anthropometric measurements of the children showed that 25% were stunted. More boys (13.7%) were stunted than girls (11.3%). Stunted children correlated negatively with wasted children significantly (P < 0.05). Urinary iodine showed that 58.3% of the children had <20 µg/L indicating severe iodine deficiency. Iodine levels in urine correlated with stunting and underweight. Key words: Urinary iodine status, anthropometric status, primary school children.
Highlights
Iodine Deficiency and Physical Development: The physiological effects of iodine are realized by the thyroid hormone in human body
It breaks down the substances in human body, so as to provide the energy required for basic life activities
Important findings of this study are information on the relationship between growth and Iodine deficiency and significant information on the nutritional status of Obukpa rural school children which can be extrapolated to other rural communities in Iodine endemic areas for the purpose of intervention programmes, such as eradication of micronutrient deficiency
Summary
Iodine Deficiency and Physical Development: The physiological effects of iodine are realized by the thyroid hormone in human body. The physiological effects of iodine are: Firstly, it can maintain the metabolism of energy in the body (www.lookchem.com). It breaks down the substances in human body, so as to provide the energy required for basic life activities. Iodine deficiency will decrease the synthesis of thyroid hormone, which may cause damage on the basic life activities and decline physical ability. Iodine deficiency can lead to physical retardation, muscle weakness and other symptoms. Iodine deficiency will greatly affect brain development, and even may lead to mental retardation, while this disorder is essentially irreversible
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