Limited Access to Iodized Salt among the Poor and Disadvantaged in North 24 Parganas District of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Iodine deficiency is endemic in West Bengal as evident from earlier studies. This community-based, crosssectional descriptive study was conducted in North 24 Parganas district during August-November 2005 to assess the consumption of adequately-iodized salt and to ascertain the various factors that influence access to iodized salt. In total, 506 households selected using the multi-stage cluster-sampling technique and all 79 retail shops from where the study households buy salt were surveyed. The iodine content of salt was tested by spot iodine-testing kits. Seventy-three percent of the households consumed salt with adequate iodine content (≥15 ppm). Consumption of adequately-iodized salt was lower among rural residents [prevalence ratio (PR): 0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-0.9], Muslims (PR: 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9), and households with monthly per-capita income of ≤US$ 10 (PR: 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.8). Those who heard and were aware of the risk of iodine-deficiency disorders and of the benefit of iodized salt were more likely to use appropriate salt (PR: 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3). Those who were aware of the ban on non-iodized salt were more likely to consume adequately-iodized salt (PR: 1.1, 95% CI 1.01-1.3). The iodine content was higher in salt sold in sealed packets (PR: 2.9, 95% CI 1.8-4.8) and stored on shelves (PR: 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.0). Seventy-two percent of the salt samples from the retail shops had the iodine content of ≥15 ppm. The findings indicate that elimination of iodine deficiency will require targeting the vulnerable and poor population.

Status of salt iodization, related awareness and practice at the household level in slums of Burdwan Municipality, West Bengal

“…[ 10 11 ] Present study, similar to other studies done in various settings of West Bengal reveal a coverage of household consumption of iodized salt, that is still far from the target of 90%. [ 15 16 17 18 ] Contrary to other studies done in West Bengal and other states of India, where non iodized salt consumption constituted a significant proportion, the present study found no households consuming non iodized salt. [ 12 13 ] An improved access to iodized salt of this deprived and poor section of the community is evident from this study, which may be attributed to continued efforts under NIDDCP to provide iodized packet salt at affordable price and a stringent ban on sell of non-iodized loose salt; however the findings also hint that only 'access to iodized salt' is not sufficient to maintain a good level of iodization at consumption.…”

“…These findings are biologically plausible and corroborated by a similar study in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal where a greater proportion of households with practice of storing salt in the shelf were found to consume adequately iodized salt. [ 15 ]…”

Household Cooking and Eating out: Food Practices and Perceptions of Salt/Sodium Consumption in Costa Rica

“…This becomes another challenge, due to the wide and varied availability and accessibility of existing salts in the communities participating in the present study (e.g., garlic, onion, herbs, lemon, and smoked flavored salts). These flavored salts may have influenced the evolution of Costa Rica's culinary culture, which has become globalized [51], as evidenced in studies carried out in other latitudes [52,53].…”

Individual and community level factors associated with use of iodized salt in sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel analysis of demographic health surveys

“…This is because households’ access to use iodized salt is commonly dependent on awareness, availability and price [ 31 ]. Households with high economic status can afford to purchase salt from appropriate sources which contains iodine compared to poor households [ 32 , 33 ].…”