Abstract:
Background: Universal salt iodization is recommended as cost-effective, safe and
sustainable strategy to ensure adequate intake of iodine by all populations. The
coverage of universal salt iodization is still very low in Ethiopia. Therefore, identification
of factors that influence the accessibility to iodized salt is essential to formulate a better
policy and intervention measures.
Objective: The aim of the study was to assess availability of iodized salt and
associated factors among households in rural community of Laelay Maychew Woreda,
Central zone, Tigray, North Ethiopia.
Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 10 to
April 10, 2014 by using face-to-face interview technique. Multistage sampling technique
was used. The desired sample size was allocated proportional to sizes of population in
each kebelle and systematic random sampling method was used to get study subjects.
The collected data were entered, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 20
software. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was done to determine the significant
relation between each independent variable with outcome variable. Multivariable logistic
regression analyses were done to determine relative prediction level of independent
variables to the outcome variable. Variable having p < 0.05 was considered as
significant and AOR with 95% CI was used to interpret the result.
Results: One hundred ninety eight (33%) of the household respondents were used
iodized salt adequately. Formal education [AOR=2.207, 95%CI [1.27-3.39], good
knowledge about iodized salt and iodine deficiency disorders [AOR=2.11, 95%CI [1.37-
3.25] and shorter storage of salt at household [AOR=1.61, 95%CI [1.10-2.35] were the
identified factors that predict for availability of adequately iodized salt at household
level.
Conclusion and recommendation: Availability of adequately iodized salt was very
low in the study area. So, strengthening the current universal salt iodization program
and further revising strategies to increase utilization of adequately iodized salt at
household level is recommended. Key words: Availability, Iodized salt, Household,
Ethiopia
