THE PRACTICE OF IODIZED SALT USE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN AMBO TOWN,WEST SHOA,OROMIA REGIONAL STATE,ETHIOPIA,2022

Abstract

Background: Iodine is an essential trace element for thyroid hormone production, which results in iodine deficiency when our body couldn't get the required amount of iodine. Iodine deficiency problems affect people of all ages, especially pregnant women, young women, and children. Good practice of iodized salt includes its proper storage and correct utilization. Out of people those who uses iodine salt, the storage method and habits of utilization are ineffective. Objective: To assess the practice of iodized salt use and associated factors among households in Ambo town, west Shoa, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2022 Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Ambo town, Oromia, Ethiopia from February to April 2022. Data were collected from 503 samples of households in Ambo Town by trained data collectors using structured questionnaires. The data were collected using a questionnaire and iodine salt rapid test investigation; data were entered to EPI-DATA version 4.6 statistical packages and then were transferred to SPSS version 25 for analysis. The association between dependent and independent variables was assessed by using binary logistic regression. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported as a measure of the strength of associations. A P-value of 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Result: Result: A total of 503 households took part in the study, resulting in a response rate of 98.2%. Of the households that used iodized salt with good practice was 270(53.7%). Marital status [AOR = 2.05, 95%CI = (1.39, 3.00)] and knowledge of iodized salt [AOR = 2.10, % CI = (1.03, 3.124)] were both shown to be significantly associated with practice of iodized salt usage at home. The period of salt storage (less than two months), education, and occupation were also statistically associated with the practice of iodized salt. Conclusion and recommendation: In the research area, the proportion of households with good practices of iodized salt use was low. The educational level, marital status, occupation, and knowledge of the respondents were significantly associated with the practices of iodized salt utilization. So it is critical to improve the practice of iodized salt utilization at the household level by monitoring iodized salt at the household level and making awareness creation through education promotion via various communication techniques.