To learn about the status of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in Zhumadian City, Henan Province, and to provide basis for scientific intervention measures.

From 2016 to 2020, monitoring sites were set up in nine counties (districts) of Zhumadian City, and a town/street was selected from each of the five directions of East, West, South, North and Middle at each monitoring site. One primary school was selected from each town/street, 40 non-boarding children aged 8-10 years were selected from each primary school (half male and half female). In addition, 20 pregnant women were selected from each town/street. Urine samples and edible salt samples at home were collected from these children and pregnant women for iodine determination. Some children and pregnant women were selected to investigate the awareness rate of IDD prevention and treatment knowledge. Thyroid B-ultrasound examination was performed in some children. Iodine in drinking water was determined according to the national and provincial requirements of "strengthening scientific iodine supplementation".

From 2016 to 2020, a total of 13 500 salt samples were tested, including 12 453 qualified iodized salt samples and 246 non-iodized salt samples. The qualified iodized salt consumption rates of children and pregnant women were 92.26% (8 303/9 000) and 92.22% (4 150/4 500), respectively, and the non iodized salt consumption rates were 1.89% (170/9 000) and 1.69% (76/4 500), respectively. The median urinary iodine concentration of children were 208.91, 179.02, 222.85, 203.50 and 230.50 μg/L, respectively. The median urinary iodine concentration of pregnant women were 182.01, 153.26, 178.72, 196.82 and 178.75 μg/L, respectively. The goiter rate in children was 1.63% (49/3 000), there was no significant difference between different age groups (χ² = 0.47, P = 0.790), and between different genders (χ² = 0.01, P = 0.912). The awareness rate of IDD prevention and treatment knowledge was 94.68% (11 916/12 585) in children and 91.75% (4 537/4 945) in pregnant women. A total of 27 664 water samples were collected from 1 572 administrative villages, with a median of 12.90 μg/L of water iodine, including 1 383 low-iodine villages, 173 moderately iodine villages and 16 high-iodine villages.

Children's iodine nutrition exceeds the appropriate amount, and pregnant women's iodine nutrition is appropriate in Zhumadian City Henan Province. In combination with the results of water iodine monitoring, we will continue to carry out IDD monitoring and consolidate the results of prevention and control.

Iodine; Child; Pregnant women; Salts