Prevalence of Iodine deficiency disorder in a highland district in Tigray

Abstract

A cross-sectional community based goiter prevalence survey was conducted in February 2003 in Neksege Sub District in Tigray to collect baseline data on the magnitude of Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) and the demand for iodinated salt supplementation. The community prevalence of goiter was 71.4%, with 59.5% in males and 80.2% in females. Adjusted community goiter prevalence was 57.2%. The lowest estimated rates of cretins were 37.7 per a thousand people. Goiter is rampant and epidemiological estimates of other IDD manifestations are unacceptably high and call for urgent intervention.