Household Water is the Main Source of Iodine Consumption Among Women in Hargeisa, Somaliland: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Iodine status surveys of women in Somaliland present widely conflicting results. Previous research indicates elevated concentrations of iodine (IQR 18-72 µg/L) in groundwater used for drinking and cooking, but the relationship with iodine intake is not characterized well. Objective: We aimed to investigate the contribution of household water iodine concentration (WIC), breastfeeding, total fluid intake, hydration levels, and urine volume on urinary iodine concentration and excretion (UIC, UIE) during 24 hours, and to define iodine status from iodine intake estimates and median UIC, normalized to a mean urine volume of 1.38L/day (hydration-adjusted). Methods: The study sample comprised 118 nonpregnant, healthy women aged 15-69. All resided in Hargeisa; 27 breastfeeding. Data collection consisted of a 24-hour (24-h) urine collection, a 24-h fluid intake diary, a beverage frequency questionnaire, and a structured recall interview. We measured UIC and WIC in all urine and in 49 household-water samples using the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. Results: WIC ranged between 3 and 188 μg/L, with significant median differences across the water sources and city districts (P

Household Water is the Main Source of Iodine Consumption Among Women in Hargeisa, Somaliland: A Cross-Sectional Study