Sub-Clinical Iodine Deficiency Still Prevalent in Bangladeshi Adolescent Girls and Pregnant Women

The major aim was to determine iodine status of adolescent girls and pregnant women in Bangladesh. Secondary objectives were to assess knowledge and practice on iodized salt use and to determine predictors of iodine status. A total number of 354 adolescent girls and 256 pregnant women were randomly selected from the six divisions of Bangladesh. Socio demographic information and iodine nutrition knowledge, weight and height were collected. Salt samples were collected from the household and spot urine samples were collected from the respondents. The median urinary iodine concentration of adolescent girls and pregnant women were 135 and 133 μg L-1, respectively. Among adolescent girls, 37% had UIC <100 μg L-1 and among pregnant women, 56% had UIC < 150 μg L-1. A significant correlation existed between the iodine concentration of the salt sample and UIC in both adolescent girls and pregnant women. Half of the households of both adolescent girls and pregnant women used inadequately iodized salt (<15 mg kg-1). Adolescent girls had better knowledge on cause and prevention of goitre than pregnant women. The odds ratio of adolescent girls and pregnant women to be iodine deficient were 0.44 (95% CI, 0.39 to 0.95) and 0.55 (95% CI, 0.43 to 0.98) when they used adequately iodized salt.The results show that sub-clinical iodine deficiency is still present in Bangladesh, specifically in the divisions of Dhaka and Rajshahi. Salt iodization, use of packed salt and nutrition education should consistently be stimulated, monitored and improved in order to establish adequate access to dietary iodine for all people in Bangladesh.