ABSTRACT
Objective To know the quality of iodized salt and the current situation of the salt coverage in Tibet,and to provide scientific basis for proposing proper prevention and control measures to Iodine dificiency disorders(IDD). Methods In 2008, according to the "Sampling Methods of the Main Products in the Salt Industry",one batch fifteen salt samples were collected in iodized salt processing factory in Tibet. Five townships were chosen in each county based on 5 different directions of east, south, west, north and center. If the monitoring county has less than five townships, then all of the townships were sampled. In each township, four villages were selected withrandom sampling and importance sampling. In each township, 15 households were selected for salt collection. Results A batch of 15 salt samples in a salt processing plant were tested, and all of them were qualified with salt iodine(34.6±1.58) mg/kg. A total of 21 107 edible salt samples were tested, and 11 203 of them were qualified iodized salt. These results meant that the provincial iodized salt coverage rate was 53.08%. Shannan iodized salt coverage rate was 94.31% (3395/3600) which was the highest in Tibet. Those of Nagqu, Changdu, Ngari were lower, they were 29.84% (897/3006), 24.94% (823/3300) and 17.08% (205/1200), respectively. Conclusions The quality of iodized salt in Tibet is up to the national standard, but the coverage rate of iodized salt is very low.We suggest that the strategy should be carried out according to the national overall program strategy and supplement iodized oil capsule for special groups.
ABSTRACT
Objective To propose prevention and control strategy against iodine deficiency disorders to prevent new cases of endemic cretinism from occurring. Methods In April and August 2007, all the suspected cretinism patients born after the first of January, 1997 were searched for in 16 counties from Lhasa, Shannan, Nyingchi, Qamdo and Xigaze. Meanwhile, 60 children aged 8-10 years were selected in each of the two rural villages of each county chosen. Goiter was examined using palpation and B-ultrasound, urinary iodine was determined, inteligence quotient(IQ) was tested; 30 women of childbearing age from each village chosen underwent urinary iodine test and household salt semi-quantitative detection. Results No new cases of endemic cretinism had been found; Palpation identified goiter at 4.5% (257/5680) in children, B-ultrasound revealed a rate of 4.7% (258/5433). Median of urinary iodine was 159.4 μg/L, the averaged IQ was 78.3±14.5; women of childbearing age had a median urinary iodine of 70.2 μg/L. The coverage rate of iodized salt was 52.8%. Conclusions Goiter rate in children, urinary iodine level meet the standard set for the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders; however, the low IQ children, low coverage of iodized salt and the level of urinary iodine in women of childbearing age are less than desirable. Iodine deficiency disorders prevention and control need to be strengthened.