Iodine Deficiency Disorders in Kapenguria: a Urinary Iodine Estimation

Abstract

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are known to be a potential problem for billions of people living in the highland areas of Africa and Asia. One method of determining the severity of IDD in a region is to determine the iodine content of the urine of school aged children. The iodine status in four primary schools in the Kapenguria Division of West Pokot district was assessed by determining the urinary iodine concentration in 102 children from the four schools. The median urine iodine concentrations were obtained as Kammorou (n = 24): 2.0-2.5 micrograms/dL (p < 0.01), Nasokol (n = 28): 2.5-3.0 micrograms/dL, Nangrotum (n = 27): 2.5-3.0 micrograms/dL and Makutano (n = 23): 5.5-6.0 micrograms/dL. For a goitre free area, the urinary iodine concentration should be above 5.0 micrograms/dL.