RESUMO
Background: iodine deficiency is the main cause of potentially preventable mental retardation in childhood. It is still prevalent in large parts of the world. Mild iodine deficiency can affect cognitive development of the child. Aim of study investigated iodine status of primary school children and consumption of iodized salt
Subjects and methods: this study included 2105 households, urine analysis for 1879 primary school children aged [6 - 12 years] from urban and rural sites [975 and 904], seven governorates in Egypt [Behera, Menoufia, Dakahlia, Beni Suif, Minya, Wadi Jedid and South Sinai]
Results: showed that more than 50% of household used iodized salt. In addition, they were adding iodized salt [65.8%] during the process of cooking food. Beni Suif recorded the highest prevalence of mild iodine deficiency in both urban and rural sites
Conclusion: iodized salt program in the seven governments faces some problem/barriers for use of iodized salt at household level. Government has required the use of iodized salt inprocessed foods
Recommendation: Surveillance systems need to be strengthened to monitor both low and excessive intakes of iodine to improve the iodine nutritional status of the population without risks of iodine excess or deficiency