Availability of Adequately Iodized Dietary Salt and Associated Factors in a Town of Southeast Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background. Iodine deficiency is the world’s major cause of preventable intellectual impairment, and nearly 2 billion people are at risk of iodine deficiency worldwide. Prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders primarily aim at ensuring the intake of adequate iodine to maintain normal thyroid function. In our study area, studies regarding the coverage of adequately iodized salt at household level are meager. Hence, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of adequately iodized dietary salt at a household level in Kore Town, Southeast Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Kore town from August 1 to 30, 2019. A total of 394 households were selected for this study using a simple random sampling technique. The level of salt iodine content was determined using the rapid field test kit. Then, iodine contents of dietary salt were reported as <15 parts per million and ≥15 parts per million. Data regarding sociodemographic factors, knowledge of respondents about iodized salt, and iodized salt handling practices were collected through a face-to-face interview. The binary logistic regression model was used to assess the association between independent factors and the outcome variable. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05 . Result. Out of all the households, 223 (56.6%) had adequately iodized salt. Not exposing iodized salt to sunlight (AOR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.1, 5.2), storing the salt at a dry or cold place [(AOR = 4.77, 95% CI: 1.39, 16.45) and (AOR = 8.23, 95% CI: 1.44, 47.19), respectively], and having good knowledge about iodized salt (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.18, 3.01) were significantly associated with the presence of adequately iodized salt at the household level. Conclusion. Availability of adequately iodized salt in the study area was far below the World Health Organization recommendation. Information regarding the importance and proper handling of iodized dietary salt should be communicated to the householders.

Salt profile and content in foods prepared in restaurants and bakeries: Analysis of the 2 main urban centers in Cape Verde

“…The high percentage (97%) of use of iodized salt by the restaurants and bakeries may be due to the efforts of the Cape Verdean government to stimulate improvements in the iodine status in recent years. This rate is consistent with that found in a study conducted in Nigeria (95%) and is higher than that found in studies in Ghana (75.6%) and Senegal (10%) on the salt iodine content in the household diet and associated factors (16,17).…”

Knowledge and Utilization of Iodized Salt and Associated Factors among Households of Fitche Town, Central Ethiopia, 2020: A Community based Cross-Sectional Study

“…On the other hand, this finding is higher than the studies conducted in Wolaita (37.7%) [27], Dabat district (33.2%) (16), Gondar (28.9%) [28], Benishangul Gumuz (26.1%) [29], Laelay Maychew District (33%) [30], and zuway (30.7%) [31]. This discrepancy could be correlated to a change in the time when the studies were done [32]. As evidence from the Ethiopian demographic and health survey, the coverage of iodized salt increased from 28.4% in 2000 to 89% in 2016 [11].…”

Mandatory Versus Voluntary Implementation of Salt Iodization Program for the Last Two Decades in Ethiopia: A Comparative Review of Existing Literatures

“…Despite these and other efforts made by the Ethiopian government, several recent researches had shown conflicting results about the Ethiopia’s progress toward achieving the goal of USI. 3,11,51,53…”

“…3 Another study conducted in northeast Ethiopia had shown high prevalence of goiter (42.5%). 51 Similarly, the southeast Ethiopian study revealed only 56.6% of households were using adequately iodized salt 53 which is far below WHO recommendation (> 90%).…”

“…Despite these and other efforts made by the Ethiopian government, several recent researches had shown conflicting results about the Ethiopia's progress toward achieving the goal of USI. 3,11,51,53 In a study conducted in eastern Ethiopia, the median UIC was 146 mg/L reflecting iodine sufficiency at population level, but 31% of the study participants had UIC < 100 mg/L (though an individual's UIC value cannot be used to judge iodine status of any population) and utilization of inadequately iodized salt were high (90.0%). 3 Another study conducted in northeast Ethiopia had shown high prevalence of goiter (42.5%).…”