Effect on infant mortality of iodination of irrigation water in a severely iodine-deficient area of China

Investigated the effect of iodine replacement through iodination of the irrigation water in Hotien county in Xinjiang province, an area of severe iodine deficiency which has a high infant mortality rate. Found that iodine supplementation decreased both neonatal and infant mortality, leading to the conclusion that iodine replacement has probably been an important factor in the national decrease in infant mortality in China. (Original abstract-amended)