Assessment of the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders in New Valley, Aswan and Kafr El-Sheikh Governorates of Egypt

ABSTRACT

Iodine Deficiency is an international public health problem, manifested by an array of disorders that have serious social, private and economic costs to society. This is part of the national survey on assessment of Iodine Deficiency Disorders [IDD] in Egypt. It was done to assess prevalence of IDD in New Valley, Aswan and Kafr El-Sheikh [KES] governorates during 1993-1995. It was conducted on a sample of 4050 primary school children chosen from different zones of the three governorates using the two stage cluster sampling technique. Assessment of goitre prevalence was done clinically and biochemically by determination of urinary iodine concentration. Determination of iodine content of food, drinking water, cooking salt and soil was also done using HPLC. Goitre prevalence varied greatly in the 3 governorates [82.3% in New Valley, 17.5% in Aswan and 27.1% in KES]. In New Valley IDD constitutes a severe public health problem. It was more prevalent in rural than urban areas of New Valley. In Aswan IDD is a mild problem while in KES a moderate problem. Prevalence of goitre was higher in females than males in most zones of the 3 governorates Azharya school students reported persistently higher goitre levels than other usual governmental school students. Total median urinary iodine level was 8.9 mg/dl in New Valley, 10.8 in Aswan and 15.1 in KES. Goitre prevalence was inversely related to urinary levels. There was good agreement between clinical and biochemical indicators used in assessing goitre prevalence. Deficient iodine intake can be considered the main etiologic factor for this state of IDD which is confirmed by low urinary iodine excretion and substantiated by the low iodine content of water and locally consumed food items. Also the role of environment goitrogens - specially in New Valley - malnutrition and poor sanitary and socioeconomic conditions cannot be ignored. Main control measures recommended were use of oral iodized oil in New Valley and iodized salt programme for the whole country