Background. The worldwide elimination of iodine deficiency is at present one of the priorities of WHO. The highest risk group with regard to sequelae of inadequate iodine supplies are even in case of a milder iodine deficiency, human foetuses during the foetal and early infantile period (endemic cognitive disorder). An epidemiological survey in three areas of the Czech Republic (Prague, Příbram, Ústí n. Labem) in 1993-95 in 5-day old infants and their mothers provided evidence of a medium grade iodine deficiency in Prague and the Příbram area. The objective of the epidemiological check-up survey of ioduria of neonates in 1997 (Prague, Příbram) is the evaluation of the success of preventive provisions which were implemented for a period and educational activities, recommendations to take 100 mg iodine to all pregnant and lactating mothers, fortification of infant foods with iodine, increasing and improving the standard of iodine in table salt (27 ± 7 mg l/kg salt as potassium iodate). Methods and Results. In 1997 the ioduria of two groups of full-term neonates and their mothers was assessed on the fifth day after delivery. Fifty neonates and their mothers were from Prague, 50 from Příbram. Ioduria was assessed in morning urine samples by the method of Ing. Bílek (National list of laboratory items MZ, SLP type N-SPA-BANO, code Joduria (photometry), key BIAAA, published in 1997). The results were statistically computed using Bartlett’s chi-aquare and Kruskalov-Vallis’ H test and Student’s t-test. The median of ioduria in Prague neonates was 7.93 mg l/100 ml and in Příbram neonates 7.83 mg l/100 ml urine. The median values of maternal ioduria were 5.90 mg l/100 ml in Prague and 7.23 mg l/100 ml urine in Příbram. Conclusions. The median ioduria values of neonates from two areas (Prague and Příbram), previously (93-94) in the zone of medium iodine deficiency, increased significantly during three years of intervention and in 1997 they reached normal levels of ioduria for the given age group.

        Key words: medium grade iodine deficiency, neonates, cognitive endemic disorder, intervention.