The Influence Of Iodine Supplementation Into Drinking Water As A Complement To Iodized Salt In Schoolchildren In A Mountainous Area Of Central Java, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) is still prevalent in Indonesia. Since 1994 the Government of Indonesia launched iodized salt as the sole method to eliminate IDD. Unfortunately, many parts of the country, particularly in mountainous area could not achieve the target due to some reasons.The objective of the present study was to ascertain that iodine supplementation into drinking water can fill the gap. It was a school-based, long-term trial of iodine supplementation into drinking water in schoolchildren aged 8-10 years. That drinking water contained 200μg iodine/L. Four hundred and forty one children in Ngargoyoso sub-district were included in the study. Drop method of water iodization was used. Goiter was determined by palpation. The reduction of Total Goiter Rate (TGR) indicates effectiveness of the supplementation.TGRdecreased from 51.9% (2010) to 34.3% (2011) to 25.2 (2012) consecutively. No dropout wasreported. It seems thatsevere IDD endemic area with abundance of drinking water from spring well would benefit from the supplementation.