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. 2023 Dec 14;27(1):e18.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980023002744.

Prevalence and determinants of goitre among children of South Kordofan state, Sudan, 2021: an urgent need for effective implementation of universal salt iodisation

Azza Elfadil Abdalla  1 , Anfal Mahmoud Altahir  1 , Elfatih A Hasabo  1   2   3 , Salma Salah Alrawa  1 , Amna Mutasim Elazrag  1 , Hayat Abdoallah Ahmed  1 , Hiba Abubakr Ali  1 , Ibrahim Mysara Abdelrazig  1 , Mohamed Yaser Ahmed  1 , Mohamed Alsiddig Alagib  1 , Musab Mohammed Siddig  1 , Rofida Salah Asmally  1 , Salma Mohamed Mohamedelrasheed  1 , Walaa Abdulgadir Elnaiem  1 , Elfatih Mohammed Malik  4
Affiliations

Prevalence and determinants of goitre among children of South Kordofan state, Sudan, 2021: an urgent need for effective implementation of universal salt iodisation

Azza Elfadil Abdalla et al. Public Health Nutr. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of goitre among children aged 6-12 years at South Kordofan state.

Design: This was a cross-sectional facility-based study.

Setting: The study was conducted in twenty villages of South Kordofan state during a medical mission.

Participants: All 575 school-age children (6-12 years) who attended the medical day were examined for clinical assessment of goitre.

Results: The prevalence of goitre among children of South Kordofan was 42·8 % (grade 1: 15·7 %, grade 2: 27·1 %). Only 24·2 % of caregivers reported using iodised salt. Mothers working as farmers (OR: 3·209, CI 95 % 1·437, 7·167; P = 0·004) and children of Darforian tribes (OR: 21·799, CI 95 % 2·566, 185·226; P = 0·005) were found to be significantly associated with higher prevalence of goitre among children. This contrasts with children of African tribes, where they were found to have less goitre prevalence (OR: 0·432, CI 95 % 0·213, 0·875; P = 0·02). Iodised salt utilisation (OR = 0·523, CI 95 % 0·320, 0·854; P = 0·01) was found associated with a lower prevalence of goitre.

Conclusion: Even though National Iodine Deficiency Disorders control programs were initiated in Sudan more than 25 years ago, the prevalence of goitre among children in South Kordofan state was alarming (42·8 %). Efforts to improve access to iodised salt, increase utilisation and raise awareness are urgently needed.

Keywords: Goitre; Sudan; iodine deficiency disorders; universal salt iodisation.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

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