ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the status of iodine deficiency in the population of Orissa and track progress of the elimination efforts. METHODS: A community based field survey was conducted. Data was collected using quantitative and qualitative research methods. Standard internationally recommended protocol and methodology was followed. Thirty clusters were selected using population proportionate to size sampling technique. School children aged 6 to 12 years were selected as target group. Goiter prevalence, urinary iodine excretion in the target group and iodine content of the salt at household were used as outcome variables. RESULTS: A total of 1200 children were studied. The total goiter rate was found to be 8.0%, of which 7.6% were grade I and 0.4% was grade-II goiter. The median urinary iodine excretion was found to be 85.4 microg/L and 32.2% of the subjects had urinary iodine levels less than 50 microg/L. Estimation of iodine content by titration method revealed that in only 45% of households salt was found to be adequately iodised. (Salt with iodine level 15 ppm). CONCLUSION: Iodine deficiency continues to be a public health problem in Orissa and the need to accelerate efforts to iodine sufficiency cannot be overemphasized.