Consumption of iodized salt among households of Basra city, south Iraq.

Progress towards universal salt iodization in Iraq is uncertain. A cross-sectional study with cluster sampling was carried out to investigate the sources and packaging of salt in 900 households in Basra and assess the knowledge and practice of household members regarding iodized salt and iodine deficiency disorders. Adequately iodized salt was found in only 68.3% of households. Salt from local sources was significantly less likely to be iodized than salt from imported sources (15.3% versus 86.9% had > or = 15 ppm). Salt in plastic packages was mostly adequately iodized (95.0%) compared with loose packages (70.3%). Most respondents had heard about iodized salt (92.6%), yet only 27.1% knew about the health benefits. Significantly more household members with university education had iodized salt in the household than those who were illiterate or only could read/write (82.0% versus 57.7%). Better monitoring of local salt supplies and more education to improve the population's awareness of iodization are needed.

Acute respiratory infections: a study on case management in Basrah health centres.

This paper reports the results of a study carried out in Basrah during 1992 on the pattern of case management as a control measure of acute respiratory infection among children aged under five years. The study involved a detailed observation of cases attending 12 health centres in Basrah city and its suburbs. A total of 392 cases were included. The cases were almost equally distributed according to sex, a fact which may reflect that acute respiratory infections do not discriminate between sexes and that our society pays the same attention for males and females when they fall ill. Regarding severity, most of the cases were mild or moderate, only 5% were severe. The doctors were generally competent to handle cases of acute respiratory infection but they had a tendency to overprescribe antibiotics. They were very good in excluding non-severe cases but they tended to miss some severe cases. The implications of these findings were discussed and it was recommended that further specific studies be carried out.

Consumption of iodized salt among households of Basra city, south Iraq

Progress towards universal salt iodization in Iraq is uncertain. A cross-sectional study with cluster sampling was carried out to investigate the sources and packaging of salt in 900 households in Basra and assess the knowledge and practice of household members regarding iodized salt and iodine deficiency disorders. Adequately iodized salt was found in only 68.3% of households. Salt from local sources was significantly less likely to be iodized than salt from imported sources [15.3% versus 86.9% had >/=15 ppm]. Salt in plastic packages was mostly adequately iodized [95.0%] compared with loose packages [70.3%]. Most respondents had heard about iodized salt [92.6%], yet only 27.1% knew about the health benefits. Significantly more household members with university education had iodized salt in the household than those who were illiterate or only could read/write [82.0% versus 57.7%]. Better monitoring of local salt supplies and more education to improve the population's awareness of iodization are needed