Prevalence of goiter among children aged 11-16 years in Ahwaz, Iran.

OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ahwaz, Iran to find out the prevalence of goiter among schoolchildren ages 11-16 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Multistage sampling methodology was followed for selecting the study population. A total of 1,950 children (1,050 males, 900 females) were clinically assessed for thyroid gland enlargement. Data were collected on age, sex, weight, height, iodized salt consumption, family history of goiter, and thyroid size by palpation. RESULTS One hundred forty-six of the 1,950 children showed various grades of goiter, giving a prevalence of overall goiter of 7.48%. Of the 146 persons with goiter, 46 (31.5%) were male and 100 (68.5%) were female. Prevalence of goiter among male and female students was 4.4 and 11.1%, respectively. Prevalence of grade 1, 2, and 3 goiters was 56.8% (83 cases), 37.7% (55 cases), and 5.5% (8 cases), respectively. A significant difference existed between height of students with grade 1 goiter and those with grade 2 and 3 goiter (p < 0.001). A significant difference also was found between weight of students with grade 1 goiter and students with grade 2 goiters (p < 0.002). CONCLUSION These results indicate that Ahwaz City is not an endemic area for iodine deficiency, probably because of its geographic location (the low altitude of sea level) or nutritional habits of its population (consumption of fish and iodized salt).