E. Asibey-berko et al., Endemic goitre and urinary iodine levels in rural communities in the Bolgatanga and Builsa districts of the upper east region of Ghana, E AFR MED J, 75(9), 1998, pp. 501-503
Objective: To ascertain the severity of IDD in some rural communities in up
per east of Ghana and to urge the establishment of intervention and control
measures for IDD.
Subjects and study design: A total of 1061 subjects, made up of about an eq
ual number of children (8-14 years) and women of childbearing age (15-45 ye
ars) from seven Sekoti villages and five Builsa villages of the upper east
of Ghana were examined for goitre by the palpation method. In addition, eve
ry tenth subject examined, provided urine for urinary iodine determination.
Results: 68.8% of the subjects had goitre; 9.9% had visible goitre. The goi
tre rates of the children from Builsa (77.2%) were significantly higher tha
n those from Sekoti (59.1%) [z=4.5; p<0.001]. The overall prevalence of goi
tre and visible goire in women in the two areas were 70.8% and 15.4% respec
tively. The women of Sekoti had more goitres (76.6%) but less visible goitr
es (8.8%) than those of Builsa (63.5 % and 21.9%) [p<0.001). The median uri
nary iodine level for the two survey areas was 1.6 mu g/dl. 72% of subjects
and urinary iodine less 2 mu g/dl/24% had urinary iodine levels in the ran
ge 2-5 mu g/dl and the remainder had urine iodine in the range 5-10 mu g/dl
.
Conclusions: These findings indicate severe IDD in Sekoti and Builsa areas
requiring urgent action. Further studies are indicated to determine the cau
se(s) of the IDD endemia.