Evaluation of Iodine Deficiency Disorders Status in 10 Counties of Jiangsu Province,China

Objective To assess the iodine deficiency disorder(IDD)status in 10 counties of Jiangsu Provinc Methods IDD status was self-evaluated by each of ten county authorities in 1997,and a special verification survey was conducted in 1997-1998 by a provincial multisectoral team Results Regular monitoring of counties indicated that the goiter rate in schoolchildren had progressively decreased from 41 9% in 1983 to 3 9% in 1997,while the median urinary iodine concentrations of the population had remained above 100 μg/L since 1985 More than 90% of the edible salt supplied to households had been iodized at≥20 mg I/kg during the previous five years The data obtained by the provincial verification confirmed the county findings of≥90% adequate iodized salt in households, 5% goiter rate,and adequate urinary iodine excretions in schoolchildren Conclusions The established mechanisms for salt iodization and supply and iodine information management is potentially sustainable The high variability of the iodine content of household salt indicates that improved quality assurance of iodized salt at production and continued monitoring of population iodine indicators are needed