Goitre or Thyroid Disorders status in India

New Delhi: India has completed its transition from iodine deficiency to iodine replete status. It is believed that iodine supplementation can cause a spurt in autoimmune thyroid dysfunction and hypothyroidism, by making the thyroid gland more susceptible to damage by body's own immune system. The prevalence of self-reported goitre or thyroid disorder in National Family Health Survey IV [NFHS IV (2015-2016)] was 2.2%, while it was 2.9% in NFHS-V (2019-2021).

The NFHS IV (2015-2016) has reported that amongst individuals between the age 15-49 years, the self-reported prevalence of goitre or thyroid disorder was nearly 2% in females and less than 1% in males. Also, the reported prevalence increased with age in women (15-19 years: 0.7%; 20-34 years: 1.8%; 35-49 years: 3.4%).

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As per NFHS V, the details of States/UTs wise cases reported are given below.

As per the NFHS IV (2015-2016), amongst 6,99,686 women in their reproductive age groups (15-49 years), those in the highest quintile of wealth index had three to four-fold higher risk of having thyroid disorders. In addition, there was a graded increase in risk of having thyroid disorders from poorest to richest.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the RajyaSabha today.

 thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that is placed low on the front of the neck. The thyroid lies below the Adam's apple, in the front of the windpipe. The thyroid has two side lobes, connected by a bridge (isthmus) in the middle. The thyroid secretes hormones, called thyroid hormones. The main hormone is thyroxine, also called T4. Thyroid hormones act throughout the body, promote metabolism, growth and development. During infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone is crucial for brain development.

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