Endemic goitre in lowland Burma.

The problem of endemic goitre in Burma was thought to be confined to hilly regions and therefore goitre control programme has been focussed on these areas only. However, sporadic evidences accrued that there might also be pockets of endemic goitre in low-lying areas of the country. Goitre surveys and indepth study were carried out to determine the magnitude and nature of endemic goitre in lowland Burma. The overall goitre rate was 67% and the male:female ratio was 1:1.2. The findings of the study indicate that the problem of endemic goitre is also of public health significance in the lowland areas of the country. It is recommended that effective and appropriate intervention programmes be extended to these areas.

Comparative study of nutritional problems in the islands of the Mergui archipelago

Assessment of the nutritional status of the people in three islands along the Tenasserim Coast namely, Malik, Pale and Zadeikgyi Islands was done in June 1970. Anthropometry, clinical examination, biochemical tests were carried out and food consumption weaning practices were studied. The growth pattern of children and young adults was found to be below the, 10th percentile of the reference standard and compared favourably with that of Thailand. Low body weight for length (about 70 per cent below the reference standard) was found mostly in children aged 1-2 years. Children aged 1-5 years showed various degrees of protein-calorie malnutrition. Infants under 6 months were not affected. The incidence and type of nutritional deficiency signs differ from one island to another. Signs of riboflavin deficiency were more prevalent among Malik villagers. The inhabitants of Pearl Island were found to have the lowest incidence of nutritional deficiencies. Weaning studies showed that 71.6 per cent of babies were breast fed. The mean age of weaning was 1 year 4 months. No significant differences were found between the serum proteins and haemoglobin levels in the inhabitants of the three islands.