Abstract
Salt iodization programs are a public health success in tackling iodine deficiency. Yet, a large proportion of the world’s population remains at risk for iodine deficiency. In a nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Sierra Leone, household salt samples and women’s urine samples were quantitatively analyzed for iodine content. Salt was collected from 1123 households, and urine samples from 817 non-pregnant and 154 pregnant women. Household coverage with adequately iodized salt (≥15 mg/kg iodine) was 80.7%. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of pregnant women was 175.8 µg/L and of non-pregnant women 190.8 µg/L. Women living in households with adequately iodized salt had higher median UIC (for pregnant women: 180.6 µg/L vs. 100.8 µg/L, respectively, p < 0.05; and for non-pregnant women: 211.3 µg/L vs. 97.8 µg/L, p < 0.001). Differences in UIC by residence, region, household wealth, and women’s education were much smaller in women living in households with adequately iodized salt than in households without. Despite the high household coverage of iodized salt in Sierra Leone, it is important to reach the 20% of households not consuming adequately iodized salt. Salt iodization has the potential for increasing equity in iodine status even with the persistence of other risk factors for deficiency.
Highlights
Even in its milder forms, iodine deficiency has important effects on the cognitive development and growth of the fetus and the young child [1,2], as well as on cognitive performance in school-aged children [3]
The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in school-going children was 158 μg/L, which is considered adequate according to the World Health Organization (WHO) [8]
945 non-pregnant women 15–49 years of age were randomly selected for inclusion in the survey
Summary
Even in its milder forms, iodine deficiency has important effects on the cognitive development and growth of the fetus and the young child [1,2], as well as on cognitive performance in school-aged children [3]. Increased iodization of household salt has reduced iodine deficiency and its disorders globally in the past two decades, an estimated 1.8 billion people in 2011 were at risk of iodine deficiency globally [5]. These estimates are based on the proportion of school-aged children with urinary iodine. In the vast majority of West African countries, including Sierra Leone, data on iodine status are mostly from the early 2000’s. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in school-going children was 158 μg/L, which is considered adequate according to the World Health Organization (WHO) [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
