Kasturiba B.Nadaf, Nilofar I.2019-09-202019-09-202015-08http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810128729An investigation was undertaken with an objective to assess the prevalence of iodine deficiency among rural and urban adolescent girls, of Dharwad district. About 1000 adolescent girls (13 to 16) years were screened for IDD. Based on IDD symptoms, 100 adolescent girls were selected for the assessment of nutritional and iodine status. Prevalence, Nutritional and Iodine status was assessed based on clinical examination, anthropometry, diet survey and biochemical method. Information about the consumption of iodine rich, goitrogenic foods, type of salt consumed etc., was collected through questionnaire. The results revealed that Majority of adolescent girls suffered from hair loss (76.10%), weight gain (33.70%), lethargy (31.70%), sweating (30.80%), white patches (29.80%) and menstrual problems (24.50%).Anthropometric measurements of rural adolescent girls were lower compared to urban counterparts. Iodine rich foods like milk, curds and jowar were most frequently consumed and goitrogenic foods like onion, cabbage, cauliflower etc., were most frequently consumed by rural and urban adolescent girls, but it was high in rural area compared to urban. All urban adolescent girls (100%) had their thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level in the reference range of 0.3 - 5.5 (Iu/ml) and belonged to normal group, 86.10 percent of rural girls belonged to normal group, whereas 13.90 percent had their TSH level above the normal level (>5.5 Iu/ml). With regard to knowledge score, urban girls had higher knowledge regarding IDD (10.22±5.89) than rural (7.7±5.72). Fifty percent of the rural and 67.20 percent of urban adolescent girls were using iodized salt. It can be concluded that though the marked clinical symptoms of IDD were not observed, but subclinically more than 13.90% of adolescent girls were suffering from IDD. It is an alarming issue because high prevalence of iodine deficiency among the women of child bearing age has great implication on the health of their children.ennullThesis