Аңдатпа
Background In 2003 the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) was one of the first countries of CIS region adopted the Law on mandatory iodization of table and cattle salt. Based on the results of the national Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) of 2006 and the subsequent application, the country was certified in 2010 as reached universal salt iodization (USI). After this time, researches on iodine deficiency at the national level were not held in Kazakhstan. Objectives: The evaluation of the situation on iodine intake at the national level by urine iodine excretion, revelation of salt iodization quality and the awareness level of the population on iodine deficiency, comparison of indicators overtime in RK. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 2011 included 64 clusters on 22 women in each cluster. The women of reproductive age (15-49 years) were interviewed and 1145 salt samples were collected from their households for quantitative determination of iodine, and 1296 their urine samples were analyzed on content of iodine by ammonium persulfate digestion method, based on the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. It was conducted a comparative analysis of the results with data from national studies before adopting USI strategy (1999) and MICS (2006). Results The urinary iodine median at women in 2011 was 181.1 mg/l, in 2006 - 235.9 mg/l, in 1999 - 93.9 mg/l. The prevalence of iodine deficiency of women was 22.8% in 2011, it was 15.9% in 2006, and 54.2% - in 1999. In 2011 the percentages of salt samples with adequately iodized salt (?15 ppm) were 95.9%, in 2006 - 91.4 %, in 1999 - 29%. In 2011 among interviewed women 92.7%, n = 1303 knew that salt is iodized, in 2004 these were 93,3%, n = 1 500, and only 58.6% were aware of the need to use iodized salt, n = 4800 in 1999. Conclusions Since the adoption of the Law on mandatory salt iodization consumption percentage of adequately iodized salt has increased, which in turn affected the rising of urinary iodine levels at the population. After 8 years of USI median of urinary iodine excretion decreased slightly comparing with 2006, but remained in the normal range on the Background of adequately iodized salt coverage more than 90%. It indicates the necessity of periodic biological monitoring and continuing communication activity among population on long-term and constantly basis. Key message After 8 years of USI median of urinary iodine excretion decreased slightly comparing with 2006, but remained in the normal range.