Salt Fortification with Iodine: Sudan Situation Analysis

Abstract

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) constitute a severe public health problem in Sudan. IDD affects children and women throughout life. More than 2 out of 10 school age children have goiter. The prevalence reaches 40% in some regions of the country. Several interventional measures were introduced to control the IDD problem. While the situation with regard to production and supply of iodized salt was thus deteriorating, an Emergency Food Security and Nutrition Assessment Survey (EFSNA) revealed that the prevalence of IDD among adult women, as reflected in the presence of visible goiter, was as high as 25.5%. We have conducted a situation analysis survey in the Republic of Sudan to review the prevailing situation and suggest a benchmark that would help in developing effective control measures and in monitoring their implementations. SWOT analysis, questionnaire, focus groups discussion beside a combination of rapid assessment approach and qualitative method were used to critically evaluate the salt iodization situation in the country and assess the prevailing IDD situation in and propose a plan of action to overcome the bottlenecks. The survey concluded that Iodine deficiency affects children and women all through Sudan. The prevalence is even greater in some regions of the country and there is no supportive policy environment for successful universal salt iodization. To overcome this aggravated situation Sudan will need to conduct a baseline study to provide data on the prevalence of IDD, geographic distribution, knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to iodine deficiency. This will provide a benchmark that will help in developing effective control measures and in monitoring their implementation. The study recommended a set of actions to the government to overcome the prevailing situation and strengthening the current policy and implementation.

Iodized Salt Consumption in Sudan: Present Status and Future Directions

“…This reflects the low awareness and weak political commitment toward USI and IDD control (18,19). Many ministerial decrees were issued by ministers of health, requesting salt manufacturers to produce iodized salt (18), in addition to legislations banning the sale of non-iodized salt in three states.…”

Endemic goitre in the Sudan despite long-standing programmes for the control of iodine deficiency disorders

“…12 A more recent situational analysis has shown that IDDs still affect children and women throughout the Sudan and that no policy supporting universal salt iodization is in place. 13 Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the current status of IDDs in the Sudan and to provide baseline impact indicators for future IDD control programmes. The study also seeks to respond to the 2005 World Health Assembly resolution (WHA58.24) mandating countries to report on their IDD situation every three years.…”

Iodine nutritional status after the implementation of the new iodized salt concentration standard in Zhejiang Province, China

“…In recent years, some concerns about USI have circulated, for instance population trends in thyroid illness [17–19] and misconceptions about the risks posed by the diet of coastal residents, especially in urban areas. Urban residents believe they have sufficient iodine because they have more access to seafood as they live in coastal regions, and thus they prefer non-iodized salt [20, 21]. In addition, many local salt plants produce coarse salt, which results in consumption of non-iodized salt.…”