Public health policy to redress iodine insufficiency in pregnant women may widen sociodemographic disparities

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a mandatory bread fortification programme on estimated iodine intakes of childbearing women and to describe the extent to which uptake of a maternal iodine supplement recommendation is associated with sociodemographic characteristics.DesignA postpartum survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Details on pre- and post-conceptional supplement use, bread intake, iodized salt use and maternal sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics were obtained.SettingEleven maternity wards and hospitals located across New Zealand.SubjectsSeven hundred and twenty-three postpartum New Zealand women.ResultsMean iodine intake from fortified bread was 37 μg/d prior to conception. Younger women, women with higher parity, single women and those with unplanned pregnancies were less likely to meet the pregnancy Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for iodine (allP≤ 0·022). Although not statistically significant for all months of pregnancy, women with less education and income were less likely to meet the EAR (P≤ 0·11 andP≤ 0·2 for all months, respectively) and indigenous Māori women and Pacific women were less likely than New Zealand Europe