PREVALENCE OF GOITER AND THE STATUS OF IODIZED SALT AMONG THE PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN OF A RURAL DISTRICT IN CENTRAL INDIA

Introduction: Iodine deficiency disorders are one of the most common public health problems throughout India. The long term goal of salt iodization is elimination of iodine deficiency and reduction of goiter rate in school aged children. Objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of goiter in primary school children. Methods: In a cross sectional study, a total of forty-seven villages (about 5%) having primary schools, were selected by systematic random sampling method to study the prevalence of goiter and the status of iodized salt at consumer and distribution level. Results: The overall prevalence of goiter in the primary schools children is estimated about 21.23%. Thus it falls under moderate IDD. In the study maximum 311 (53.25%) salt samples have shown 15 ppm iodine. Conclusion: Goiter prevalence is still a public health problem in study area even after the introduction of iodized salt.