Iodine deficiency status amongst school children in Pauri,Uttarakhand

Objective

To assess the iodine deficiency status amongst school age children in district Pauri, Uttarakhand.

Methods

2067 children (age of 6–12 years) were included. Clinical examination of thyroid gland of each child was conducted. On-the-spot urine and salt samples were collected from children.

Results

Total Goitre Rate was found to be 16.8% and median Urinary Iodine Concentration level was 115 μg/L. Only 40.4% of salt samples had e 15 ppm of iodine.

Conclusion

There is a mild degree of iodine deficiency in school age children in district Pauri. There is a need of strengthening the National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Program.