Study on iodine nutrition and related influencing factors of children aged 8-10 in Wuhan / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To understand the status of iodine nutrition and its related influencing factors of school-age children in Wuhan, so as to provide the basis for adjusting the strategies of IDD prevention and control.@*Methods@#In 5 districts of Wuhan (Hongshan, Hanyang, Hannan, Jiangxia, Dongxihu), non-boarding students aged 8-10 years old were selected from each of the five sample areas in the east, west, south, north and middle. Samples of urine and the cooking salt from their home were randornly colleted among children. Height, weight measurement and a self-administered questionnaire were conducted at the same time. A total of 942 valid questionnaires were collected, including 484 boys and 458 girls.@*Results@#The median of iodine content of children s household salt was 23.20 mg/kg, the median of urinary iodine of children in the city was 251.00 μg/L. Children s random urine iodine concentration was related to gender, whether kelp was consumed the day before the survey, the frequency of consuming milk, and whether they received radiological examinations(P<0.05). Male (OR=1.38, 95%CI=1.04-1.82), consumption of kelp the day before the survey (OR=1.67,95%CI=1.13-2.47) and radiological examination (OR=1.26,95%CI=1.05-1.52) were risk factors for children with urinary iodine concentration higher than the upper limit of the appropriate value(P<0.05). The awareness rate of children s iodine deficiency disease prevention knowledge in Wuhan was 69.64%.@*Conclusion@#The iodine nutritional status of children aged 8-10 years in Wuhan was higher than the appropriate level recommended by international organizations. The random urine iodine concentration of children was affected by many factors and the awareness rate of children s iodine deficiency disease knowledge in Wuhan was low. Therefore, health education for children and residents on iodine deficiency disorders should be strengthened, and they should be properly guided and intervened to ensure that iodine deficiency is prevented while iodine excess is avoided.