Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-17T07:31:55.830Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Impact evaluation of efforts to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders in Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

John Egbuta ,
Frank Onyezili  and
Koen Vanormelingen
John Egbuta*
Affiliation:
Health and Nutrition Section, UNICEF, Lagos, Nigeria PO Box 5859, UNOHCI–Baghdad, New York, NY 10163-5859, USA
Frank Onyezili
Affiliation:
Health and Nutrition Section, UNICEF, Lagos, Nigeria
Koen Vanormelingen
Affiliation:
Health and Nutrition Section, UNICEF, Lagos, Nigeria
*
*Corresponding author: Email jegbutaone@hotmail.com
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objective:

The objective of the present review is to assess the impact of universal salt iodisation in Nigeria during the last five years, with reference to some of the sentinel sites studied previously during a 1995 multi-centre study.

Design, setting and subjects:

The method of goitre classification by palpation was employed using the new internationally accepted method in which the classification is simply graded as 0, 1 or 2. The multistage random sampling method was used and states and local government areas were already selected by virtue of their known status for iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Schools were randomly chosen in each local government area and children aged 8–12 years in each school were determined. A percentage of the children was then included in the study to give a sample size greater than the minimum number allotted to the school. A total of 2372 schoolchildren (1420 males and 952 females) in 11 local government areas were examined; urine samples were collected from 537 children and analysed for urinary excretion of iodine. The method known as the Sandell–Kolthoff reaction was adopted, in which the iodide in the urine samples catalyses the reduction of ceric ammonium sulphate (yellow colour) to the cerous form (colourless) in the presence of arsenious acid. The degree of reduction in colour intensity of the yellow ceric ammonium sulphate is proportional to the iodine content in the urine sample.

Results:

The results from this study show that the median urinary iodine excretion for this sampled population in Nigeria, drawn mostly from IDD-endemic areas, is 14.65 μg dl−1 with a mean value of 13.39 μg dl−1.

Conclusion:

This finding would suggest that Nigeria, in general terms, has achieved the goal of universal salt iodisation and should now focus its attention on constant monitoring in order to sustain this iodisation level.

Keywords

Iodine deficiency disordersGoitreHyperthyroidismHypothyroidismUniversal salt iodisationUrinary iodine excretionVirtual elimination
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , April 2003 , pp. 169 - 173
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2003

References

1Stanbury, JB. Iodine and human development. Med. Anthropol. 1992; 13: 413–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Hetzel, BS, Maberly, GF. Iodine. In: Mertz, W, ed. Trace Elements in Human and Animal Nutrition, Vol. 2, 5th ed. New York: Academic Press, 1986; 139–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3Leven, HM. Economic dimensions of iodine deficiency disorders. In: Hetzel, BS, Dunn, JT, Stanbury, JB, eds. The Prevention and Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1987; 195–208.Google Scholar
4Ekpechi, OL. Iodine deficiency disorders in Africa. In: Hetzel, BS, Dunn, JT, Stanbury, JB, eds. The Prevention and Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1987; 291–6.Google Scholar
5Ekpechi, OL. Pathogenesis of endemic goitre in Eastern Nigeria. Print J. Nutr. 1967; 21: 537–45.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Ekpechi, OL. Goitrogenic activity of Okoho. Endocrinol. Exp. 1973; 7: 91–6.Google ScholarPubMed
7Nwokolo, C, Ekpechi, OL. New foci of endemic giotre in eastern Nigeria. Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1996; 60: 97–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Olurin, EO. The fire of life (the thyroid gland). Inaugural Lectures 1974–1975. Nigeria: University of Ibadan, 1975.Google Scholar
9Isichei, UP, Das, S, Egbuta, JO, Banwo, AI, Norinoto, I, Nagataki, S. Endemic goitre in Plateau State, Nigeria: the possible aetiological factors and the establishment of endemic goitre map for the region. In: Proceedings of the Nigeria/Japan Conference. University of Jos Press, 1987; 74–9.Google Scholar
10Egbuta, JO. Consultancy report on iodine deficiency disorders in Nigeria. Report prepared for UNICEF Nigeria, 1993.Google Scholar
11Egbuta, JO, Hettiaratchy, N. Nigeria advances toward IDD elimination. IDD Newsletter 1996; 12(4): 29Google Scholar
12Lantum, DN. Multicentre Study in 7 African Countries to Assess the Impact of Salt Iodisation on the Iodine Status of a Selected Nigerian Population. Jaint WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD Consultation Report. WHO/AFRO/NUT/97.2. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1996.Google Scholar
13Delange, F. The disorders induced by iodine deficiency. Thyroid 1994; 4: 107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Delange, F, Benker, G, Caron, P. Thyroid volume and urinary iodine in European school children: standardisation of values for assessment of iodine deficiency. Eur. J. Endocrinol. 1997; 136: 180–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15Onyenekwe, I, Ogbonna, A, Ekpechi, OL. Consultancy report on impact evaluation of USI in Nigeria. Report prepared for UNICEF Nigeria, March 1999.Google Scholar
16Clemens, FW, Wishart, JW. A thyroid-blocking agent in the aetiology of endemic goitre. Metabolism 1956; 5: 623.Google Scholar
17Choufoer, JC, Van Rhijn, M, Kassenaar, AAH, Simpson, AI. Endemic goitre in western New Guinea. Iodine metabolism in goitrous and non-goitrous subjects. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1963; 23: 1203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18Gaitan, E. Environmental Goitrogenesis. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1989.Google Scholar
19Delange, F, Iteke, FB, Ermans, AM. Nutritional Factors Involved in the Goitrogenic Action of Cassava. Ottawa: International Development Research Centre, 1982.Google Scholar
20Podoba, J, Langer, P. Naturally Occurring Goitrogens and Thyroid Function. Bratislava: Publishing House of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, 1964.Google Scholar
21Ermans, AM, Mbulamoko, NM, Delange, F, Bourdoux, P. Role of Cassava in the Aetiology of Endemic Goitre and Cretinism. Ottawa: International Development Research Centre, 1980.Google Scholar
22Langer, P, Greer, MA. Antithyroid Substances and Naturally Occurring Goitrogens. Basel: Karger, 1977.Google Scholar
23Ermans, AM, Kinthaert, J, Van Der Veldenn, , Bourdoux, P. Studies of the antithyroid effects of cassava and of thiocyanate in rats. In: Ermans, AM, Mbulamoko, NM, Delange, F, et al. eds. Role of Cassava in the Aetiology of Endemic Goitre and Cretinism. Ottawa: International Development Research Centre, 1980; 93.Google Scholar