Combating iodine deficiency disorders in Kenya: The need for a multi‐disciplinary approach

Abstract

In Kenya, iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are prevalent in the highland areas of Central, Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley Provinces, where the land is fertile and more than half the country's population is concentrated. So far, studies on the epidemiology and control of IDD have involved only medical professionals whose work has taken little account of the geochemical, biochemical and other aspects of the behaviour of iodine. This paper examines the possible causes of IDD in Kenya and emphasizes the potential effectiveness of a multi‐disciplinary approach in the prevention and control of IDD.