Iodine content and consumption pattern of salt in households of Mehrauli, Delhi

Dr T K Ray, Dua Binny, Dhiman B

Dr T K Ray, Dua Binny, Dhiman B Professor , Community Medicine LHMC, Delhi

Abstract

Background
Iodine deficiency disorders are a common public health issue in India as well as in various developing countries which can be easily prevented by universalisation of iodated salt ingestion. Salt consumption pattern may vary from one population to another because of different socioeconomic and cultural practices of individuals especially for a city like Delhi where people from different sociocultural backgrounds are clustered together. Keeping these factors in mind the present community based study was planned to find out salt consumption pattern of population residing
in Mehrauli area South Delhi.
Objective
To find out goitre rate and to assess the Iodine content of salt used by the households and its consumption pattern by people residing in Mehrauli area, Delhi.
Material and methods
A survey was conducted to find out goitre prevalence and collect data regarding salt consumption pattern in terms of type of salt consumed, storage pattern and other relevant information from 1016 selected households. A subset of 292 salt samples were analysed for iodine content using titration methods in an ICMR laboratory.
Results
The goitre prevalence was found to be 1.7%. Iodine content was adequate (> 15 ppm) in 93% of the samples analysed by titration method while 3.4% of the salt samples had iodine content of 0 ppm. Proportion of samples with inadequate iodine content (< 15 ppm) increased significantly with lowering down of socioeconomic status of the subjects (p < 0.001). A statistically significant (p < 0.05) direct linear relationship between inadequate iodine content and storage duration was found in the study.
Conclusion
The findings indicate that iodine level in salt is above the recommended cut off given by WHO/ICCIDD/UNICEF for monitoring of iodine deficiency disorders. Thus iodine deficiency is no longer a public health problem in the study area. However the storage pattern of salt needs to be addressed as it influences the iodine content.

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