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Iodine Status of School-Aged Children in Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State
Abstract
Objective: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency of school aged children in Urue Offong Oruko local government area of Akwa Ibom State using recommended quantifiable indicators.
Subject and Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 1800 school children aged 6-9 years in Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State in January, 2011. The children were selected through simple random sampling technique. The prevalence of goitre was assessed clinically using the standard palpation method. Urinary iodine excretion (UIE) levels of 300 study subjects, selected through systematic random sampling, were analyzed by the wet digestion method to determine urinary level of iodine.
Results: A total goitre rate of 8.3% was found with no ignificant gender difference (p>0.05). The median UIE was 187.5μg/L. About 67% of the population had UIE value consistent with adequate intake (UIE>100μg/L) while 13% had a UIE value less than 50 μg/L. Iodine content of 900 salt samples tested with spot-testing kit revealed 96.1% with adequate iodine content of ≥15 ppm.
Conclusion: The finding of 8.3% of total goitre rate but with no evidence of current iodine deficiency (median UIE 187.5 μg/L) indicates that the Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government is in the transition phase from iodinedeficient to iodine-sufficient.
Key words: Iodine status, Goiter, Urinary iodine, IDD, School- aged children
Subject and Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 1800 school children aged 6-9 years in Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State in January, 2011. The children were selected through simple random sampling technique. The prevalence of goitre was assessed clinically using the standard palpation method. Urinary iodine excretion (UIE) levels of 300 study subjects, selected through systematic random sampling, were analyzed by the wet digestion method to determine urinary level of iodine.
Results: A total goitre rate of 8.3% was found with no ignificant gender difference (p>0.05). The median UIE was 187.5μg/L. About 67% of the population had UIE value consistent with adequate intake (UIE>100μg/L) while 13% had a UIE value less than 50 μg/L. Iodine content of 900 salt samples tested with spot-testing kit revealed 96.1% with adequate iodine content of ≥15 ppm.
Conclusion: The finding of 8.3% of total goitre rate but with no evidence of current iodine deficiency (median UIE 187.5 μg/L) indicates that the Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government is in the transition phase from iodinedeficient to iodine-sufficient.
Key words: Iodine status, Goiter, Urinary iodine, IDD, School- aged children
