@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20160201.11,
  author = {Nicholas Aku Sarah and Appiah Kubi Prince and Ahiabor Seth Yao and Asalu Adebayo Geoffrey and Takramah Kwami Wisdom and Kweku Margaret},
  title = {Knowledge on Iodized Salt Use and Iodine Content of Salt Among Households in the Hohoe Municipality, Volta Region - Ghana},
  journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20160201.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20160201.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20160201.11},
  abstract = {Background: Micronutrient deficiencies particularly, Iodine, Zinc, Iron and Vitamin A, continue to inflict substantial health, economic and social encumbrances globally. Ghana is among the world's population that resides in areas with high iodine deficiency. In the Volta region of Ghana, only 24.6% of households consume iodized salt, and this is far below the 90% WHO/UNICEF mandatory recommendation of Universal Salt Iodization (USI) for countries with high iodine deficiency. This study was to estimate the iodine content of household salt, and knowledge on iodized salt use in the Hohoe municipality, Volta Region, Ghana. Methods: This study was descriptive cross-sectional in design, using a multi-stage sampling technique to select respondents from all the seven sub-municipalities in the municipality. Data was collected from women in charge of household meals preparation using structured questionnaires and rapid field iodine test kits. The collected data was entered into Epi data version 3.1 and then exported to Stata version 11. Descriptive statistics such as determination of proportions, frequencies, mean and standard deviation were used in describing the population. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to assess the associations between the dependent and independent variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Four hundred and fifty women with a mean age of 40.4 years (±2.1 SD) were surveyed. Respondents had quite a good knowledge (59.3%) on iodine, 41.1% knew the benefits and deficiencies of iodine, and 69.8% stored their salt in covered containers. However, only 24.2% of household salt contained adequate iodine of ≥15ppm. In addition, majority (75%) consumed local salt with little (<15ppm) or no iodine (0ppm). Also, those with secondary and tertiary education were more likely to use iodized salt (P <.001). Rural households were more likely to use iodized salt (P =.002) than the urban households. Conclusions: The results suggest that respondents’ knowledge did not necessarily translate into iodized salt use. Enforcement of existing laws and policies on universal salt iodization and quality assurance of iodized salt from the production to the distribution point should be enforced, and offenders punish to serve as a deterrent.},
 year = {2016}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Knowledge on Iodized Salt Use and Iodine Content of Salt Among Households in the Hohoe Municipality, Volta Region - Ghana
AU  - Nicholas Aku Sarah
AU  - Appiah Kubi Prince
AU  - Ahiabor Seth Yao
AU  - Asalu Adebayo Geoffrey
AU  - Takramah Kwami Wisdom
AU  - Kweku Margaret
Y1  - 2016/09/06
PY  - 2016
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20160201.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20160201.11
T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
SP  - 1
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5781
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20160201.11
AB  - Background: Micronutrient deficiencies particularly, Iodine, Zinc, Iron and Vitamin A, continue to inflict substantial health, economic and social encumbrances globally. Ghana is among the world's population that resides in areas with high iodine deficiency. In the Volta region of Ghana, only 24.6% of households consume iodized salt, and this is far below the 90% WHO/UNICEF mandatory recommendation of Universal Salt Iodization (USI) for countries with high iodine deficiency. This study was to estimate the iodine content of household salt, and knowledge on iodized salt use in the Hohoe municipality, Volta Region, Ghana. Methods: This study was descriptive cross-sectional in design, using a multi-stage sampling technique to select respondents from all the seven sub-municipalities in the municipality. Data was collected from women in charge of household meals preparation using structured questionnaires and rapid field iodine test kits. The collected data was entered into Epi data version 3.1 and then exported to Stata version 11. Descriptive statistics such as determination of proportions, frequencies, mean and standard deviation were used in describing the population. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to assess the associations between the dependent and independent variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Four hundred and fifty women with a mean age of 40.4 years (±2.1 SD) were surveyed. Respondents had quite a good knowledge (59.3%) on iodine, 41.1% knew the benefits and deficiencies of iodine, and 69.8% stored their salt in covered containers. However, only 24.2% of household salt contained adequate iodine of ≥15ppm. In addition, majority (75%) consumed local salt with little (<15ppm) or no iodine (0ppm). Also, those with secondary and tertiary education were more likely to use iodized salt (P <.001). Rural households were more likely to use iodized salt (P =.002) than the urban households. Conclusions: The results suggest that respondents’ knowledge did not necessarily translate into iodized salt use. Enforcement of existing laws and policies on universal salt iodization and quality assurance of iodized salt from the production to the distribution point should be enforced, and offenders punish to serve as a deterrent.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  - 

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