RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To find how the urinary parameters of iodine excretion evolved in a community with deficiencies, after administering iodine orally and IM in two provinces in Burkina Faso; to recommend a national strategy to tackle iodine deficits. Design. A longitudinal survey before and after the iodine was given (12 months). Descriptive analysis of the data. SETTING: Provinces of Namentenga and Passoré in Burkina Faso. PARTICIPANTS: The general population of the two provinces who satisfied age-sex criteria: males from 0 to 25, females from 0-45. Randomised two-stage sampling. 423 people in all took part (210 in Namentenga and 213 in Passoré). INTERVENTIONS: The administration of 1 ml of iodised oil (Lipiodol) orally in Namentenga and IM in Passoré. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The urinary parameters of micrograms of iodine per gr. of Creatinine, and micrograms of iodine per dl of urine, were used. Figures for normalisation of the urinary parameters 12 months after iodisation was significantly higher in Passoré province, where iodine was administered IM. CONCLUSIONS: The intramuscular pathway has more longlasting effects, but the characteristics of Burkina Faso's health system and the feasibility of a medium or long-term intervention make it advisable that iodine supplements be administered orally.