Status of salt iodization, related awareness and practice at the household level in slums of Burdwan Municipality, West Bengal

BACKGROUND: Monitoring adequacy of salt iodization at consumption level and exploring the reasons for inadequacy, especially in marginalized communities, is crucial to achieve the target coverage of universal salt iodization. AIMS: To assess the iodine content of salt used at household level, related awareness and practice of respondents and their socio demographic correlates. SETTINGS AND DESIGNS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the slums of Burdwan Municipality in 2019. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A total of 330 households were selected by cluster sampling. Salt iodine content was estimated at household level semi-quantitatively by Iodine testing kit, following recommended guidelines. One respondent from each household was interviewed to assess their awareness and practice regarding iodized salt. Kruskal Wallis test, Mann Whitney U test and Multivariable logistic regression was used. RESULTS: All 330 households were using iodized salt; 77.6% were consuming adequately iodized and 22.4% were consuming inadequately iodized salts. Only 30.9% of the respondents were aware about the importance of iodized salt, few had correct practice despite inadequate knowledge and none, except one, practiced adding salt at the end of cooking. Awareness and practice were associated with caste and age of the respondents, respectively. Keeping salt container near the oven, adjusting for keeping salt in uncovered container, significantly predicted inadequate level of iodization [AOR 6.17 (95% CI: 2.68-14.26)]. CONCLUSION: Inadequate iodization, lack of awareness regarding iodized salt and faulty storing practices amounting to increased risk of inadequate iodization are still prevalent emphasizing the need, in policy, for health education.