Peace impact on health: population access to iodized salt in south Sudan in post-conflict period

AIM: To determine the population access to salt/iodized salt during and after the armed conflict in south Sudan and to illustrate geographical variations in population consumption of iodized salt in south Sudan after the armed conflict. METHODS: The sources of data for the conflict period were the 2004 Toward a Baseline: Best Estimates of Social Indicators for Southern Sudan study report and the 2000 Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey, and for the post-conflict period the 2005 Sudan Household Health Survey (SHHS) data set. RESULTS: After peace agreement, population access to salt increased by 6.8% (Z = 5.488, P < 0.001) and the consumption of iodized salt increased by 32.9% (Z = 24.668, P < 0.001). More than 73% of families were using iodized salt but geographical differences existed between states. CONCLUSION: Peace had positive impact on population access to iodized salt in south Sudan. Public health authorities in south Sudan need to establish quality monitoring and surveillance systems to track progress toward Universal Salt Iodization goal defined by the World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders.