(MENAFN- The Peninsula) A new survey has found that Qatar is free of iodine deficiency, said Supreme Council of Health (SCH) officials yesterday.
The finding is a positive indication of children and women' health in the country, Dr Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, Director, Public Health, the SCH, told a press conference held to announce the findings.
Iodine deficiency is of particular relevance to public health because it is a preventable cause of intellectual disability.
The survey, based upon standards specified by World Health Organisation (WHO), tested 1,200 schoolchildren aged six to 14.
Although it was among young children, it's considered a reflection of the population.
"Iodine deficiency can cause abortions. It also has an immediate effect on a child's learning capacity," said Dr Sheikh Mohammed.
The survey was conducted as a follow-up to a study in 1996 in Qatar that found 30 to 40 percent iodine deficiency.
"To control the situation, it was made compulsory that all imported salt should contain iodine and it has made a positive impact," he added.
However, the recent survey has also found that consumption of salt has increased. On average 5mg should be consumed per day, but people in Qatar take 13mg.
"Now our challenge is to decrease salt usage and find ways to stabilise lower salt usage.
"We will soon come out with a strategy on how to educate people through healthcare providers on reducing salt usage," said Dr Alanoud bint Mohamed Al Thani, Manager, SCH Public Health Department's Health Promotion and Non-communicable Diseases.
Students of both gender from selected classes in Independent primary schools were screened.
Spot urine specimens were collected to measure iodine concentration. On the following day, urine specimens were collected from a subsample of the surveyed students from 16 schools to measure their urinary iodine concentration.
Over 1,000 students provided salt samples used at their homes and more than 1,200 spot urine samples were analysed along with over 1000 salt samples in an internal laboratory accredited by WHO. Results also showed that about 75 percent of students' households used adequate iodised salt. But the daily average salt intake was 13mg, more than WHO's recommended level.
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