Analysis of iodine nutrition levels of children and pregnant women in Shaanxi Province in 2018 / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To master the iodine nutrition status of children and pregnant women after adjustment of salt iodization content in Shaanxi Province, and provide scientific basis for preventing and treating iodine deficiency disorders.Methods:In 2018, 107 counties (cities, districts) in Shaanxi Province were divided into three districts in Guanzhong, northern Shaanxi and southern Shaanxi for studying iodine nutrition based on terrain distribution. Among them, each monitoring county (city, district) was further divided into 5 sampling areas according to east, west, south, north, and middle locations. One township (street) was selected in each location, and forty-two 8 - 10 years old non-boarding children (age and sex balanced) and 21 pregnant women were selected in each township (street), edible salt samples and random urine samples were collected for salt iodine, urinary iodine testing, and goiter of children was examined.Results:A total of 34 264 edible salt samples from 8 - 10 years old children and pregnant women were collected, the median salt iodine was 23.80 mg/kg, and the qualified iodized salt consumption rate was 96.98% (33 229/34 264). The median salt iodine and the qualified iodized salt consumption rate were statistically significantly different among the three regions in Guanzhong, northern Shaanxi, and southern Shaanxi ( H = 26.471, χ 2 = 32.371, P < 0.05). A total of 22 895 urine samples were collected from children, with a median urinary iodine of 218.00 μg/L, which was at an ultra-suitable level of iodine nutrition; and 11 369 urine samples from pregnant women were collected, with a median urinary iodine of 181.03 μg/L, which was at an appropriate level of iodine nutrition. The median urinary iodine of pregnant women in Guanzhong, northern Shaanxi, and southern Shaanxi was 186.39, 177.52, and 176.00 μg/L, respectively. A total of 22 895 children aged 8 to 10 years old were examined, the goiter rate was 1.35% (309/22 895), and there was no significant difference between different regions (χ 2 = 3.395, P > 0.05). Conclusions:Shaanxi Province has reached the standard for elimination of persistent iodine deficiency, children's iodine nutrition is at a ultra-suitable level, and pregnant women is at an appropriate level.