Salt Iodine Variation within an Extended Guatemalan Community: The Failure of Intuitive Assumptions

Abstract

with the collaboration of Sandy May and Glen Maberly Editorial comment During the 13 years after iodized salt was introduced into Guatemala in 1952, the prevalence of goitre fell from 39% to 5%, and for many years thereafter it was difficult to find examples of endemic goitre to demonstrate to students on field visits. However, with the political turmoil of the 1980s, the iodization of salt in Guatemala lapsed and goitre returned. An effort is being made to restore an effective iodization programme. The results are still highly unsatisfactory, as the following article reports. If the problem were specific to Guatemala, this article would not have been accepted for publication. Unfortunately, it serves as a reminder of a situation that prevails in many developing countries today even when their salt or part of it is stated to be iodized. Government regulatory authorities and United Nations institutions should be alerted by this article to carry out similar evaluations in their own countries on a continuing basis.

Assessment of the Sustainability of the Iodine-Deficiency Disorders Control Program in Lesotho

“…The loss of iodine during distribution also affects the availability of adequately iodized salt at the household level and consequently causes low iodine intake. Inadequate storage conditions, which are more common in the mountains than in the lowlands and include storing salt in tins without lids or in opened plastic bags and keeping salt containers outside of cupboards [4], may also contribute to loss of iodine in salt through exposure to sunlight, heat, and humidity [17,18].…”