Prevalence of iodine deficiency worldwide

Abstract

Iodine deficiency is the main preventable cause of brain damage in children and therefore constitutes a public-health concern worldwide. Assessment of the magnitude of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and monitoring of the progress made towards its elimination represent the cornerstone of the strategy for IDD control. Over the past few years, WHO has developed a database on IDD, in which data on urinary iodine and goitre from all countries of the world are compiled. On the basis of urinary iodine data collected during 1993-2003, the current national, regional, and worldwide prevalence of iodine deficiency has been estimated.