IJSR - International Journal of Scientific Research

Jyoti Vijay; Sheel Sharma

Volume : VI, Issue : IV, April - 2017

IODINE DEFICIENCY IN INDIAN MASSES: A STATUS REPORT AFTER FIVE DECADES OF NATIONAL SALT IODIZATION PROGRAM

Jyoti Vijay, Sheel Sharma

Abstract :

Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs) are partially related to six out of eight millennium development goals. Iodine deficiency (ID), being a major public health problem in our country, affects school age children (SAC), pregnant mothers (PMs) and adolescent girls (AGs) adversely since long time. Moderate to severe endemicity of ID has been observed to be associated with less mean IQ scores of 12–13.5 points than the IQ of normal groups. During 2011–2016, studies documented goitre prevalence from 0.12% to 23.4% in SAC, 0.17% to 42.2% in PMs and 4.8% to 26.7% in AGs. This deficiency results in low human productivity leaving adverse impact on the development of country. Hence, National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Program, calls for restrengthening.