AMMAN - The Kingdom has achieved the sustainable elimination of iodine deficiency as a public health problem, a study revealed on Thursday.
The National Survey to Assess Iodine Deficiency Disorders among School Children in Jordan for 2010, indicated that goitre prevalence in the Kingdom dropped to 4.9 per cent in 2010, compared to 33.5 per cent in 2000.
The study, which was conducted by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO), covered 4,600 children in the 8-10 age bracket who were selected randomly from primary public, private and UNRWA schools.
The indicators used for the study included measurements of the iodine concentration in urine and the proportion of households consuming iodised salt, as well as clinical examinations for goitre.
The survey showed that the median urinary concentration was 20.3ug/100ml, compared to15.4ug/100ml in 2000, while 96.3 per cent of household used iodised salt in 2010 compared to 86 per cent in 2000.
The survey concluded that the sustainable elimination of iodine deficiency as a public health problem has been achieved in Jordan according to WHO guidelines.
The guidelines indicate that median urinary iodine levels should be at least 10ug/100ml and no more than 20 per cent of the values are below 5ug/100ml, while at least 90 per cent of households should use salt with an iodine content of 15 to 40ppm.
The study recommended that the Kingdom should lower the iodine concentration in table salt, which currently stands at 40-60ppm to 15-40ppm.
It also recommended conducting another study with samples taken from the general public, including women of child-bearing age.
According to the WHO website, iodine deficiency is the world's most prevalent, yet easily preventable, cause of brain damage.
© Jordan Times 2011
