Hostname: page-component-76d6cb85b7-lcgwf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-07-11T16:48:12.516Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Salt iodisation and public health campaigns to eradicate iodine deficiency disorders in Armenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2006

Laura Rossi  and
Francesco Branca
Laura Rossi
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Unit, National Institute for Research on Food and Nutrition, via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy
Francesco Branca*
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Unit, National Institute for Research on Food and Nutrition, via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy
*
*Corresponding author: Email: f.branca@agora.it
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.
Background:

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are endemic in the mountain regions of Armenia. Universal salt iodisation has been chosen as the control measure.

Objectives:

(1) To measure the prevalence of iodine deficiency in the Armenian population; (2) to evaluate household use of iodised salt; and (3) to monitor iodised salt promotion strategies.

Design:

Cross-sectional study on a nationally representative sample of 2627 households, including 3390 children under five and 2649 women of fertile age. Cluster sampling design on four population strata: residents, refugees, rural and urban.

Results:

Thyroid was palpable in one-third of the women, 6% of them having a visible goitre. Median of urinary iodine excretion in children was 139.5 μgl−1. One-third of the children showed low urinary iodine concentration. Iodised salt was consumed in 66% of the households. The national IDD control programme included modernisation of the Yerevan Salt Factory, legislative regulation of the iodine content of the salt, and public information by the media.

Conclusions:

Armenia was still an endemic zone for goitre in 1997. The iodine status of children under five in 1997 was not considered alarming even though 33% of them had low values of urinary iodine. After four years of intervention strategies, the use of iodised salt has increased by 17%. Further efforts should be made to control salt imports and to monitor IDD indicators in vulnerable groups.

Keywords

Iodine deficiency disordersChildrenWomenDietary prophylaxisPublic health strategiesArmenia

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 6 , Issue 5 , August 2003 , pp. 463 - 469
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2003

References

1Azizi, F, Kalani, H, Kimiagar, M, Ghazi, A, Sarshar, A, Nafarabadi, M, et al. Physical, neuromotor and intellectual impairment in non-cretinous schoolchildren with iodine deficiency. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research 1995; 65: 199–205.Google ScholarPubMed
2World Health Organization (WHO). Iodine and Health: A Statement by WHO. WHO/NUT/94.4. Geneva: WHO, 1994.Google Scholar
3Cairella, G, Napoletano, A, Coclite, D, Rossi, L, Hofwannshian, A, Saribekian, K, et al. A methodological approach for a nutritional surveillance system in a transition country: the case of Armenia. Annali di Igiene 1999; 11: 199–208.Google Scholar
4Toromanen, EN, Alexanian, MA, Gevorkian, AA, Narimanian, NZ. Prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorders in the Republic of Armenia. Armenian Monthly Public Health Report, 1996.Google Scholar
5World Health Organization (WHO). Assessment of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and Monitoring their Elimination. Geneva: WHO, 2001.Google Scholar
6Henderson, RH, Sundaresan, T. Cluster sampling to assess immunization coverage: a review of experience with a simplified sampling method. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1982; 60: 253–60.Google ScholarPubMed
7World Health Organization (WHO). Physical Status: The Use and Interpretation of Anthropometry. Geneva: WHO, 1995.Google Scholar
8Lamberg, BA. Iodine deficiency disorders and endemic goitre. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1993; 47: 1–8.Google ScholarPubMed
9Dunn, JT, Crutchfield, HE, Gutekunst, R, Dunn, AD. Two simple methods for measuring iodine in urine. Thyroid 1993; 3: 119–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10World Health Organization (WHO). Recommended Iodine Levels and Salt and Guidelines for Monitoring their Adequacy and Effectiveness. Geneva: WHO, 1996.Google Scholar
11Dustin, JP, Ecoffey, JP. A field test for detecting iodine-enriched salt. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1978; 56: 657–8.Google ScholarPubMed
12Narasinga, R, Ranganathan, SA. A simple field kit for testing iodine in salt. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 1985; 7: 70–2.Google Scholar
13Delange, F, Wolff, P, Gnat, D, Dramaix, M, Pilchen, M, Vertongen, F. Iodine deficiency during infancy and early childhood in Belgium: does it pose a risk to brain development? European Journal of Pediatrics 2001; 160: 251–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14Measure, DHS. Demographic and Health Surveys. Armenia 2001. Calverton, MD: Macro International, 2001.Google Scholar
15United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Assessment of the Armenian Iodised Salt Factory and Program. Yerevan: UNICEF, 2000.Google Scholar
16Vitti, P, Rago, T, Aghini-Lombardi, F, Pinchera, A. Iodine deficiency disorders in Europe. Public Health Nutrition 2001; 4: 529–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed