Iodine status and associated factors among school age children

Iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) which have vital role in many of our body function, for instance adequate dietary iodine is an important determinant for cognitive ability in human. Iodine deficiency is major public health problem in the world especially in developing countries. Cross sectional study design was conducted in Bahir Dar rural kebeles from May to June 2016. Six hundred ninety three school age (6-12years) children and their corresponding mothers/caregivers were involved in the study. Two stage cluster sampling technique was used to select the households. Goiter prevalence revealed the presence of mild iodine deficiency in the study area and also it is considered to be a public health problem since the prevalence was greater than 5%. The median UIE also indicate the presence of mild iodine deficiency.