Iodine Content of Salt Use after Years of Universal Iodization Policy and Knowledge on Iodized Salt among Households in the Sissala East Municipality in Upper West Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background. Iodine deficiency is a global public health concern as it leads to inadequate production of thyroid hormone in the body, causing too many destructive consequences on the roles and functions of different human organs and muscles including brain growth and can manifest into many damaging effects such as intestinal cerebral impedance, cancer of intestine, breast disorders, and physical deformities like goitre and cretinism to one’s body. Despite all these negative effects, there are several important public health programs including universal salt iodization (USI) to improve on households’ iodine intake, notwithstanding this, countless families are still eating foods containing less iodine or no iodine at all. Hence, this study examined the intake of iodized salt after years of universal salt iodization and the knowledge on iodized salt among households in the Sissala East Municipality. Method. A descriptive cross-sectional study was adopted to collect data for the study. Data were collected from women in charge of household meal preparation using a semistructured questionnaire and rapid field iodine test kits. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used for the data analysis and presented in tables and graphs. p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Findings. Only 41.4% of the households have good knowledge on benefits of iodized salt and dangers associated with iodine deficiency. It was realized that the health workers (46.6%) and television were the main sources of information on iodized salt. Household salt usage with adequate (>15 ppm) levels of iodine was 44.0%; however 85.9% of the salts were stored in covered containers. The study showed significant associations between knowledge on iodized salt and educational level (p≤0.001), occupation (p=0.043), religion (p=0.027), and ethnic lineage (p=0.046). Also, the use of iodized salt showed associations with the educational level (p≤0.001), occupation (p=0.003), religion (p=0.042), and knowledge on iodized salt (p≤0.001). Conclusions. Only about 4 in 10 households were consuming salt with adequate iodine, and this coverage is very low compared with the 90% or more coverage recommended by WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD. Having secondary and tertiary education and having good knowledge of iodized salt has a great influence on the use of iodized salt; however, with this low level of knowledge of importance of iodized salt among women responsible for house food preparations, there is the need for health professionals to intensify education and promotion on iodized salt in the area and to monitor and verify iodine content of salts produced and sold in the market all times, as the source of the salt might have contributed to the low levels of iodine in the household salt.

Determinants of Incident Stunting in Elementary School Children in Endemic Area Iodine Deficiency Disorders Enrekang Regency

“…Proper storage of salt will maintain the iodine content in salt. Iodized salt lowers its iodine content if it is not stored under proper conditions such as closed plastic bags, sealed waterproof materials, or closed containers [24]. From this fact, we found that the iodine content of salt was maintained so that there was no correlation between the use of iodized salt and the incidence of stunting.…”

“…Proper storage of salt will maintain the quality of iodine in salt. Iodized salt reduces its iodine content if not stored under proper conditions [24]. The use of iodized salt and proper storage at the household level also need to be considered to avoid IDD in children.…”

Factors associated with the consumption of table salt with inadequate iodine concentrations: a population analysis at a Peruvian household level

“…Furthermore, a study on the concentration of salt in households compared to retail stores in Ethiopia reported that inappropriate practices in traders such as exposing iodised salt to sunlight were associated with ethnicity, resulting in loss of iodine in salt (31) . On the other hand, Appiah et al reported that in the Ghanaian population, ethnicity was associated with having good knowledge of the benefits of iodised salt and the dangers associated with iodine deficiency at the household level, and having such knowledge was associated with the increased use of iodised salt (32) . The results of these studies indicate the variability of iodised salt consumption according to ethnicity.…”

Factors associated with inadequate urinary iodine concentration among pregnant women in Mbeya region Tanzania.

“…9 This intervention is widespread, as 68% of households have access to iodized salt. 10 USI is an effective way of delivering iodine to individuals and in term, improving cognition in populations exposed to iodine deficiency. 10,11 USI is also affordable, with annual costs of salt iodization estimated at USD 0.02-0.05 per child, while the costs to prevent child death is estimated at USD 1000.…”

“…10 USI is an effective way of delivering iodine to individuals and in term, improving cognition in populations exposed to iodine deficiency. 10,11 USI is also affordable, with annual costs of salt iodization estimated at USD 0.02-0.05 per child, while the costs to prevent child death is estimated at USD 1000. There are also large gains in per Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), at USD 34-36.…”