Abstract

Background: Iodine is an essential trace element for adults and children alike. Iodine deficiency manifests as goiter and cretinism, which causes developmental delays and other health problems.

Objectives: To ascertain the prevalence of goiter in children aged 6–12 years and to determine iodine content in the salt they consume.

Materials and Methods: All the taluks in Shimoga district were covered in the study. Population proportionate to size (PPS) sampling was done among children aged 6–12 years. Thirty villages (clusters) were selected using the PPS sampling method. In each identified cluster, all primary schools were enlisted, from where one was selected following the simple random sampling technique using a random number table for detailed survey. Total number of children surveyed was 2,700. A predesigned pretested pro forma was used to record data. Goiter was detected and graded by standard palpation method. Totally, 546 salt samples were collected for estimation of iodine content and 270 urine samples for urinary iodine excretion. The result was expressed in micrograms of iodine per deciliter urine (µg/dL). Salt and urine samples were sent to the IDD Monitoring Laboratory, Public Health Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

Results: Total cases of goiter in Shimoga district were 251, which accounts for a total prevalence rate of 9.3%. Prevalence of goiter was found to be highest in the age group of 8–9 years (10.84%). The study showed a high goiter prevalence rate among girls aged 12 years (11.59%); 60.8% (332) salt samples had iodine levels of less than 15 ppm; 214 salt samples had iodine levels more than 15 ppm; 74.7% of all the urine samples showed iodine deficiency; and 183 showed severe iodine deficiency, whereas 11 showed moderate and 1 showed mild iodine deficiency. All the 27 urine samples collected from Sagar taluk showed severe iodine deficiency.

Conclusion: Shimoga was found to be endemic for iodine deficiency disorders. Awareness generation activities have to be intensified so as to make people understand the importance of consuming iodized salt and about iodine deficiency disorders, if failed.

Key words: Iodine deficiency disorders, prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders, urinary iodine excretion, estimation of iodine content in salt, iodine deficiency in Shimoga