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- Title
Results from the National Strategy for Improvement of Iodine Nutrition in Bulgaria. A study of children and pregnant women living in an iodine-deficient area.
- Authors
Gatseva, Penka D.; Bivolarska, Anelia V.; Argirova, Mariana D.
- Abstract
Background: A significant part of Bulgaria is considered an iodine-deficient area. The National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) was developed in 1994, and regular surveys undertaken in 2000-2003 indicated a normalization of the iodine supply in the Bulgarian population, including some at-risk population groups (children, schoolchildren, pregnant women). Despite the results achieved, mandating periodic cohort surveys for tracking the elimination of iodine deficiency is necessary. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the the national strategy for improvement of iodine nutrition in children and pregnant women living in an iodine-deficient area in Bulgaria 15 years after its update. Subjects and methods: Study subjects were 73 children aged 9.21 ± 2.07 years (29 boys and 44 girls) and 16 pregnant women living in the town of Asenovgrad. Urinary iodine concentration was measured and used as an index of iodine intake. Results: The median urinary iodine of the inspected children was between 100-199 μg/l, which is an indicator of optimal iodine nutrition. Almost 1/3 of the children (31.5%) had iodine deficiency. The median urinary iodine concentration of the 16 pregnant women investigated was 127.0 μg/l, which is an indicator of insufficient iodine intake. Conclusion: Despite the normalization of the iodine supply in the past years in the at-risk population groups of children and pregnant women, a considerable portion of them still has iodine deficiency. Recommendations for improving health education and iodine nutrition in at-risk population groups were made.
- Subjects
BULGARIA; COMPUTER software; CONFIDENCE intervals; IODINE; HEALTH policy; NUTRITION disorders; PROBABILITY theory; INDUSTRIAL research; T-test (Statistics); DATA analysis; EVALUATION of human services programs; CHILDREN; PREGNANCY; PREVENTION
- Publication
Journal of Public Health (09431853), 2011, Vol 19, Issue 3, p237
- ISSN
0943-1853
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10389-010-0383-1