Low levels of urinary iodine excretion in schoolchildren of rural areas in Cuba

Objective: We set up a baseline data on urinary iodine excretion from a nationwide representative sample of rural schoolchildren before instituting iodine supplementation. Design: Stratified multistage cluster sampling in three different strata: lowlands, foothills and mountainous areas. Early morning urine samples were collected for evaluation of iodine status. Setting: Field study in 25 municipalities in 11 out of 14 provinces. The study was carried out from October to December 1995. Subjects: Three thousand and twenty-seven schoolchildren of either sex, 6 to <12 y from 87 primary schools. Results: The median urinary iodine excretion was 95 μg/L for the whole sample. The situation in a few foothills and all mountainous areas showed a moderate to severe deficiency. In the mountainous stratum, the median urinary iodine excretion values was less than 20 μg/L. Conclusions: Cuba has a mild iodine deficiency public health problem with respect to WHO criteria, which in the mountainous areas is severe. The Government of Cuba has started a national Plan of Action and funds are being mobilized to introduce nationwide iodized salt. Sponsorship: UNICEF-Cuba and The Cuban Ministry of Public Health.