Impact of a school-based intervention to address iodine deficiency disorder in adolescent girls in Gilgit, Pakistan
Location
Auditorium Pond Side
Start Date
26-2-2014 10:30 AM
Abstract
Background: Gilgit Baltistan has long been recognized as an endemic region for severe iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and hence it is still a major public health problem in this high mountain province of Pakistan. In this study we aimed to evaluate the impact of iodine supplementation, dietary modification coupled with iodine nutrition education on IDD in adolescent girls.
Aims: This study aimed to have a latest review of iodine profile / effects of iodization and diet modification among the affected population. This is the first ever quasi-experimental study in Gilgit-Baltistan for assessing the magnitude of IDD with multiple impact indicators in short span of 6 months.
Methods: We conducted a pre- and post intervention study in a stratified random sample of 152 girls aged 10 to 19 years from four schools of Gilgit town in 2011. IDD was defined as having a goiter, and urinary iodine deficiency (<100 mcg/l). Five trained female research assistants conducted iodine nutrition education for 6 months.
Results: Out of 152 participants, 125 (83%) completed the study. Use of iodized salt increased from 91.4% to 94.9% (p= 0.006) at household level.Knowledge about the role of iodine in health increased from 30.9% to 53.3% of the study population. Practice about use of iodized salt before cooking declined from 89.5 % to 77.5%. Consumption of iodine poor food decreased from 74.7% to 59.6% after the intervention. Median urinary iodine concentration increased from 31 mcg/L to 108mcg/L, while mean urinary iodine concentration increased from 33.2mcg/L (SD±14.9) to 119.1 mcg/L (SD±65.8) over the study period and the change was statistically significant (p<0.05). At the end of the study 82.8% of the adolescents had no goiter compared to 72.4% at the baseline.
Conclusion: This study showed improvement in iodized salt consumption and decreased IDD among the study adolescents.
Keywords: IDD, Urinary Iodine, Goiter, IDD prevalence in adolescent females
Impact of a school-based intervention to address iodine deficiency disorder in adolescent girls in Gilgit, Pakistan
Auditorium Pond Side
Background: Gilgit Baltistan has long been recognized as an endemic region for severe iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and hence it is still a major public health problem in this high mountain province of Pakistan. In this study we aimed to evaluate the impact of iodine supplementation, dietary modification coupled with iodine nutrition education on IDD in adolescent girls.
Aims: This study aimed to have a latest review of iodine profile / effects of iodization and diet modification among the affected population. This is the first ever quasi-experimental study in Gilgit-Baltistan for assessing the magnitude of IDD with multiple impact indicators in short span of 6 months.
Methods: We conducted a pre- and post intervention study in a stratified random sample of 152 girls aged 10 to 19 years from four schools of Gilgit town in 2011. IDD was defined as having a goiter, and urinary iodine deficiency (<100 mcg>/l). Five trained female research assistants conducted iodine nutrition education for 6 months.
Results: Out of 152 participants, 125 (83%) completed the study. Use of iodized salt increased from 91.4% to 94.9% (p= 0.006) at household level.Knowledge about the role of iodine in health increased from 30.9% to 53.3% of the study population. Practice about use of iodized salt before cooking declined from 89.5 % to 77.5%. Consumption of iodine poor food decreased from 74.7% to 59.6% after the intervention. Median urinary iodine concentration increased from 31 mcg/L to 108mcg/L, while mean urinary iodine concentration increased from 33.2mcg/L (SD±14.9) to 119.1 mcg/L (SD±65.8) over the study period and the change was statistically significant (p<0.05). At the end of the study 82.8% of the adolescents had no goiter compared to 72.4% at the baseline.
Conclusion: This study showed improvement in iodized salt consumption and decreased IDD among the study adolescents.
Keywords: IDD, Urinary Iodine, Goiter, IDD prevalence in adolescent females