[European project of structural funds: eradication of endemic goiter and iodine deficiency disorders in Southern Italy].

Iodine deficiency disorders and endemic goiter are still present in the population of Southern Italy, where the use of iodized salt is not widely diffused because of a lack of information and health education on this problem. The aim of this project financed by the "structural funds" (objective 1) of the European Union, is to eradicate endemic goiter and iodine deficiency in the population of Southern Italy. The project comprises various subsequent steps. Initially, the grade of iodine deficiency (measuring urinary iodine excretion) and the prevalence of endemic goiter (measuring thyroid volume by echography) will be evaluated in the whole schoolchildren population aged 12-14. In addition, a widespread promotional campaign on the mass media (newspaper, TV, etc.) will be performed in order to implement the use of iodized salt. Subsequently, the effect of this campaign to promote the use of iodized salt will be verified evaluating the increase of urinary iodine excretion and the decrease of enlarged thyroid volumes in the schoolchildren population.