The Unified Reporting Matrix is aimed at providing a rapid view of the current national program status. The Matrix is composed of four sections as follows:

•  Information on program efforts at the national (macro) level

•  Information on program efforts at the system/institutional levels

•  Outcome of the programme at the individual level: Use of Iodized salt

•  Impact of the programs at the population level: data on population iodine nutrition status

Section A: Information on program efforts at the national (macro) level

When scoring "Yes/No" in this section (When "Yes", put a cross, when "No", leave blank), the recommended minimum requirements for a "yes" score are:

Column 1 = A national multi-sector coalition is effective and functional

•  The coalition has national stature, and

•  The membership represents various sectors (not only Government entities), and

•  Convenes at least one meeting quarterly, with effective coordination that discusses accomplishments/achievements, sets plans, etc

Column 2 = A national USI law or iodized salt regulations have been enacted

•  The law/regulations applies to -at least- all the table (household) salt in the nation, and

•  There is officially released set of instructions that regulate control of production, sale import/export, etc, by the relevant food control and other agencies.

Column 3 = A national executive officer has been appointed

•  The officer's authority of overseeing USI and/or IDD elimination is stated in a Government document

Column 4 = Commitment to assess and reassess national progress is evident

•  Assessment of progress is undertaken at least every 5 years, and

•  The coalition demands information of national progress annually, and

•  The lab is collaborating with the ILRI network to ensure lab access

Section B: Information on program efforts at the system/institutional levels

When scoring "Yes/No" in this section (When "Yes", put a cross, when "No", leave blank), the recommended minimum requirements for a "yes" score are:

Column 5 = Regular salt iodine data is collected at factory, retail and households

•  Producers/importers share data on amounts of iodized salt supplies on -at least- annual basis, and

•  A national household survey of (rapid) salt iodine tests was done less than 5 years ago

Column 6 = Regular urine iodine data is collected of school children

•  A national school children survey of urinary iodine was done less than 5 years ago

Column 7 = Salt industry and food control agencies cooperate in maintaining quality control and assurance

•  Salt producers/importers follow a national guideline on "Best manufacturing practices", and

•  All iodized salt producers use at least salt iodine tests in their quality assurance

Column 8 = A database is established with mandatory public reporting

•  The coalition or national executive officer has started establishing a data store that includes comprehensive information of the national progress made

Section C: Outcome of the program at the population level: use of iodized salt

Column 9 = Consumer education and social mobilization is continuous

•  Information dissemination to consumers is ongoing, involving gatekeepers (e.g. health sector) and/or stakeholders (e.g., salt traders), and

•  Knowledge of IDD elimination and USI are inserted in educational curriculums

Column 10 = Use of iodized salt by 1990s mid-decade

•  Proportion of households consuming iodized salt (with year of survey in brackets): 1990s mid-decade report (SOWC 1998). Sources may include MICS, DHS and other surveys (listed on the ChildInfo website)

Column 11 = the latest data on use of iodized salt

•  Available recent data point of % households using adequately iodized salt 1 (with year of survey in brackets). Sources may include MICS, DHS and other surveys and have to be cited as footnotes.

Section D: Impact of the programs at the population level: data on population iodine nutrition status

Column 12 = national median UIC (mcg/L and the year)

•  the latest data among a national representative sample (of school children or other available sample), with the year of survey in brackets and data source in footnotes

Column 13= the % of population with UIC below 100µg/L (and the year)

•  the latest data among a national representative sample (of school children or other available sample), with the year of survey in brackets and data source in footnotes

The WHO website may be used for Section D information

1At least 15 ppm