Evaluation of Status of Salt Iodization and Community Awareness Regarding Use and Availability of Iodized Salt in District Swat

Abstract

The effect of Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) ranges from stillbirth to reductions in IQ according to thelevel of iodine deficiency and is effectively preventable by the use of iodized salt. Globally it affects 2 billionpeople, mostly in mountainous areas. Northern areas of Pakistan are highly endemic for IDD. Swat was thefirst district to introduce salt iodization in the private sector, in 1993.Objectives: Objectives of this descriptive study is to assess the present status of iodized salt in District Swatwith regard to availability, usage and awareness of the inhabitant of the household about the benefits ofiodized salt.Material & Methods: Duration of study:3 months. Sample size: data was collected by a pretestedquestionnaire, separately designed for shops, houses and salt factories, from all salt producing factories inthe area and stratified randomized technique was used for50 shops & 240 houses of the area, with equal halfwere taken from rural & urban areas.Result: Result of cumulative use of iodized salt 90 %, availability is 90 % & production is 89 % . The overallawareness about the use of iodized salt benefits is 39.2 %, more in urban (45 %) areas as compare to ruralareas (33.3 %).KEYWORDS: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), iodized salt, USI (universal salt iodization)