The Effect of Salt Iodination Program on the Prevalence of Goiter in ۹-۱۱ Year Old Schoolchildren of Kerman In ۲۰۰۶

Background & Aims: Disorders caused by iodine, with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations are among the main health - nutritional issues of our community and health priorities. Kerman province was one of the areas with high prevalence of endemic goiter before iodination programs. Since control and monitoring of programs of iodine deficiency elimination in our country is done every ۵ years, this study was done to determine any improvement in the prevalence of endemic goiter in Kerman. Methods: In a descriptive cross - sectional study through random sampling, ۵۳۸۰ students in Kerman were investigated for goiter prevalence through clinical examination and graded by World Health Organization classification. Then their serum levels of TSH, T۳, T۴ and urinary iodine were measured. Results: The overall percentage of goiter in both boys and girls was ۳۴.۸%. The mean urinary iodine was ۲۱۳.۷µg/l with no significant difference between boys (۲۱۲.۰۷±۱۲۲.۶۵µg/l) and girls (۲۱۲.۶۰±۱۰۷.۱۱µg/l). Mean T۴ was ۸.۷µg/l, with no significant difference between girls (۸.۸±۱.۹µg/l) and boys (۸.۶±۱.۸µg/l). Mean TSH was ۲.۶, and it was ۲.۹±۱.۷µg/l in girls and ۲.۳±۱.۲µg/l in boys (P=۰.۰۰۱). Mean T۳ was ۱۵۹.۳, with no significant difference between two sexes (۱۶۲.۴±۳۱.۳µg/l in girls and ۱۵۶.۹±۳۳.۲µg/l in boys). Conclusion: It can be concluded that in comparison with the results of national studies in ۱۹۹۵ and ۲۰۰۱, the percentage of the Goiter had decreased significantly in Kerman students and urinary iodine has reached to the World Health Organization recommended level.

Keywords:

Goiter , Iodination , Urinary levels , Iodine