sahr2001 - Health Systems Trust

17 • Health and Related Indicators
in urban areas, with a higher prevalence among children of well-educated
mothers.
The SADHS also reflects a growing problem of obesity, particularly amongst
urban African women where over 35% are obese. Since obesity has been
found to predispose towards the development of hypertension and diabetes,
interventions to reduce obesity are important to reduce these important causes
of morbidity in adults.
Definitions:
Iodine Deficiency: Indicator may be reported using a number of definitions:
Iodine deficient school (narrow definition) = median urinary iodine
concentration < 100mcg/litre
or
Iodine deficient school (comprehensive definition) = median urinary iodine
concentration < 100mcg/litre or ≥ 20% with urinary iodine < 50mcg/litre
Iodine deficient child = urinary iodine concentration < 100mcg/litre
Indicator reported as proportion of schools or proportion of children as
appropriate.
Note: The WHO definition of adequate iodine intake is a median urinary
iodine concentration of ≥ 100mcg/litre and a goitre prevalence of less than
5%.
Since goitre prevalence was not related to urinary iodine levels in any school
surveyed, this South African survey used an adapted definition.
Iodised salt consumption: Proportion of households’ salt samples with
specified iodine concentrations. The legal concentration at packaging is 40-
60mg/kg. A concentration