Endemic goitre in Kenya: the pattern of iodine excretion

A national random sample survey of iodine excretion among primary schoolchildren in Kenya was carried out in 1974/75, in order to monitor the endemic goitre situation and its control more accurately and to gain more insight in the geographical distribution of iodine deficiency in the country. Urine samples were collected in 59 randomly chosen primary schools in 32 districts from which the individual iodine/creatinine ratios were determined. The results are analysed and presented per school, per district and per province, showing areas of normal, moderate and low iodine intake, and latter coinciding with the known goitre areas in Kenya. Although some doubts have been cast on the methods used in this survey and the consequent reliability of its conclusions, the authors consider its publication yet justified.