ABOUT IODINE DEFICIENCY DISORDER IDD PROBLEM STATEMENT Iodine
deficiency is the single most common cause of preventable mental
retardation and brain damage in the world. It also decreases
child survival, causes goiters, and impairs growth and
development. Iodine deficiency in pregnant women causes
miscarriages, stillbirths, and other complications. Children
with IDD can grow up stunted, apathetic, mentally retarded, and
incapable of normal movements, speech, or hearing. Globally, 2.2
billion people (38% of the world's population) live in areas
with iodine deficiency and risks its complications. Iodine
deficiency was once considered a minor problem, causing goiter,
an unsightly but seemingly benign cosmetic blemish. However, it
is now known that the effects on the developing brain are much
more deadly, and constitute a threat to the social and economic
development of many countries. Effective and affordable
technology exists to prevent iodine deficiency and the problems
it causes. The most important are iodize