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Iodine deficiency disorders are a significant public health problem in developing countries, including Afghanistan.Its severity can range from mild intellectual blunting to frank cretinism,a condition that includes gross mental retardation, deaf mutism, short stature and various other defects. In Afghanistan, it has been estimated that one out of ten persons are at risk of iodine deficiency in order to correct iodine deficiencies in the war- raged country,UNICEF in collaboration with other stakeholders has initiated a number of activities to promote the consumption of iodized salt. However,no sustainable large scale salt iodization program has ever been launched either at the national or provincial level. Similarly, due to insecurity and economic limitations, no survey on iodine status of children and adults has ever been undertaken which was considered essential for planning any nutrition intervention programs of the country.This book, therefore, provides an assessment of the prevalence of clinical and subclinical iodine deficiency in children and to determine the consumption of iodized salt at the household level.

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Ali Ahmad,M.Sc (Hons): Studied Human Nutrition at North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Agricultural University of Pakistan. He currently works as the Project Management Specialist Food for Peace with USAID Afghanistan, managing emergency and non-emergency food aid programs.

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