Assessment of IDD problem by estimation of urinary iodine among school children

Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) is a major micronutrient deficiency problem in Nepal. Urinary iodine estimation has been the gold standard employed for the assessment of iodine status and of IDD. This study was conducted with objective to assess the urinary iodine among the school children of Kavre, Lalitpur and Parsa districts. Attempts were made to relate urinary iodine with salt use and other sociodemographic variables. Altogether 190 urine samples (74 samples from Kavre, 89 from Parsa and 27 from Lalitpur district) were collected from school children aged 5-13 years. The urinary iodine was analyzed by using urinary iodine assay kit (Bioclone Australia Pvt Limited). It was found that 3.2% children had urine iodine concentration below 20 microg/l. Similarly, the percentage of children with urine iodine concentration 21-50 microg/l, 51-99 microg/l, 100-299 microg/l and above 300 microg/l were 14.2%, 10.5%, 43.7% and 28.4% respectively. Iodine deficient population of school children was 39.2% of Kavre, 19.1% of Parsa and 25.9% of Lalitpur. Overall, it was found that 27.9% children had urine iodine level less than the normal WHO levels. The median urine iodine level was 139.0 microg/l of Kavre, 266.7 microg/l of Parsa and 244.4 microg/l of Lalitpur school children. Urinary iodine excretion (UIE) median value among male students was 211.9 microg/l, among female students was 190.2 microg/l and the difference was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between consumed salt iodine level and urine iodine excretion level (P > 0.05). Short-term iodine supplementation programs should be arranged for iodine deficient children in the study districts. This study shows that IDD continues to be prevalent in the country as a major public health problem, which requires strengthening effective intervention program and other preventive measures.