Adequacy Assessment of a Universal Salt Iodization Program Two Decades after Its Implementation: A National Cross-Sectional Study of Iodine Status among School-Age Children in Tunisia.
Nutrients
; 9(1)2016 Dec 25.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28029137
In the framework of a worldwide policy to eliminate iodine deficiency (ID) disorders, universal salt iodization was adopted in Tunisia two decades ago. The present study aims to evaluate this strategy, using both performance and impact indicators. A total of 1560 children, aged 6-12 years, were randomly sampled using a national, two-stage, stratified, cross-sectional cluster survey in 2012. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of the subjects, and household salt iodine content, were analyzed. The national median UIC was 220 µg/L (95% confidence interval (CI): 199-241), indicating an acceptable iodine status at the population level. Only 11.4% (95% CI: 8.6-14.9) of the children had UIC <100 µg/L, but with large regional disparities (4.3% to 25.5%, p < 0.01); however, more than a quarter of the subjects were at risk of adverse health consequences due to iodine excess. Children from households of low socio-economic levels were more prone to inadequate UIC. The national median iodine concentration of household salt was 22 mg/kg (95% CI: 21-23). Only half of the households used adequately iodized salt (15-25 ppm), with large regional disparities. National ID rates are now well below the target criteria of WHO (World Health Organization) certification (<20% of children with UIC <50 µg/L and <50% with UIC <100 µg/L). The coverage of adequately iodized salt fell short in meeting the goals of USI (Universal Salt Iodization), i.e., >90% of households. Regular monitoring of iodized salt production lines must be strengthened with involvement by producers.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Temas:
ECOS
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Aspectos_gerais
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Equidade_desigualdade
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Avaliação Nutricional
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Cloreto de Sódio na Dieta
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Iodo
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
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Prevalence_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
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Sysrev_observational_studies
Aspecto:
Equity_inequality
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Implementation_research
Limite:
Child
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Female
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Humans
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Male
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nutrients
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Tunísia