Iodine status of pregnant women in Lae.

Many areas in Papua New Guinea are regarded as endemic for iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Salt iodization to combat IDD has been a policy of the government since 1973. Its effectiveness in many areas of the country has, however, not been assessed. The iodine status of pregnant women is an indicator of the iodine status of the community. This study was conducted in order to assess the effectiveness of the salt iodization program in Lae. Urine samples from a total of 120 pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinics in different areas in Lae were analysed for iodine content. It was found that 15% of the mothers had urinary iodine values below 10 μg/dL, 11.7% between 5 and 9.9 μg/dL, 0.83% between 2 and 4.9 μg/dL and 2.5% below 2 μg/dL. This indicates that IDD is still a problem in Lae and most certainly in other parts of the country. There is a need for proper monitoring of the iodine content of salt sold in the country and also for strengthening the whole IDD intervention program.