Stable Iodine Distribution Among Children After the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in Japan: An Observational Study

[Abstract] Context:Intake of stable iodine helps prevent childhood thyroid cancer in nuclear emergencies, but there is limited case information. Objective: We identified the intake rate and the factors associated with no intake among children who did not take stable iodine after the Fukushima disaster. Design:Retrospective observational study. Setting:Data were obtained from thyroid cancer screenings performed from August through November 2017. Participants: Children in Miharu Town, Fukushima, Japan. Intervention: No intervention. Main Outcome Measures: We performed multilevel logistic regression analysis at the regional and individual levels. We qualitatively examined the reasons for no intake of stable iodine based on closed- and open-ended questions.