Objectives
Iodine deficiency disorder is a significant public health problem in more than 50 countries. It is a serious public health problem in Ethiopia. Fortification of salt with iodine has been the long term and effective preventive measure against iodine deficiency disorders. Ethiopia, in its national guideline for control and prevention of micronutrient deficiencies, has set a goal to virtually eliminate iodine deficiency disorder by the year 2005 through universal salt iodization and an objective to increase access to iodized salt among households up to 80%. So, no other study has been conducted on availability of adequately iodized salt in Lalo Asabi district. Hence the need to undertake this study was to provide current information regarding the availability of adequately iodized salt at household levels in the west part of Ethiopia.
Methods
A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 768 households in the district from December 01 to 31, 2014. A multistage sampling was used to identify study unit. Data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire by a face-to-face interview technique and the householdsâ salt was tested for its iodine content. Logistic regression analyses method was used to check associations and control confounding. Level of statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05.
Results
Only 8.7% of households had adequately iodized salt. Residence of respondents [AOR =1.26, 95% CI=(1.12, 3.43)], using packed salt [AOR =1.38, 95% CI= (1.27,3.12)], not exposing salt to sunlight[AOR =0.86, 95% CI= (0.67, 0.99)], storing salt in dry place AOR =2.15, 95% CI= (1.82,3.11] and storing salt in container with a lid [AOR =1.45, 95% CI= (1.36,2.71)]were significantly associated with availability of adequately iodized salt.
Conclusions
Availability of adequately iodized salt at household level was very low in the study area. The finding of this study revealed that residence of study participants; using packed salt, not exposing salt to sunlight, storing salt in dry place and storing salt in container with a lid were significantly associated with availability of adequately iodized salt at household level. Thus, an organized effort should be made at all levels to improve the availability of adequately iodized salt at household level.Key words: Availability of adequately iodized salt, IDD, Associated factors, Household level
