Use of adequately iodized salt at the household in Temeke municipality,Tanzania.

Abstract

Introduction: Use of adequately iodized salt at the household level is crucial for prevention of Iodine Deficiency disorders which are vital for public health importance in Tanzania . Iodine concentration in iodized salt used at the household is an important indicator for monitoring level of iodine in it. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among heads of heads of household in five wards in Temeke Municipality in Dar –Es- Salaam, Tanzania. Systematic random Sampling was conducted to obtain the study population. Interview was used to collect demographic information from the respondents characterized with age, sex, religion, level of education and source of income. Laboratory analysis for the collected iodized salt samples from the household was performed. Iodine concentration from the samples were identified by use of simple rapid test, for testing iodine from iodized salt. The iodine content in salt samples were measured by using an iodometric titration as described by Maeyer, Lowenstein and Thilly, (1979).The reaction mechanism studied into steps;1.Liberation of iodine from salt( 2.titration of free iodine with thiosulphate. Results Total 384 of salt samples collected from the household have been tested by use of rapid iodine testing kit and found that 99(25%) have no Iodine, while 285 (75%) have Iodine. Among Iodated samples tested for Iodine proportions 17 (6%) have insufficient iodine content, 258(90.5%) have adequate iodine content, while only 10 (3.5%) have excessive iodine content. The overall median iodated salt obtained was 3.5mg/kg with a range of 0-85mg/kg. Most of respondents interviewed 190(49%) had primary school education while only 58 (15%) had four education level and majority 221 (58%) of them were self employed followed by78 (20%) who depend on their families and friends support. When interviewed, 221 (58%) of respondents mentioned iodized salt to be expensive while most of them,77% have no knowledge about use of adequately iodized salt. Conclusion and recommendation; Non iodized salt was used at the household level. Lack of knowledge on use and importance of iodized salt lead to household members use non –iodized salt as they were unable to differentiate between iodized and non- iodized salt. The other reason was Iodized salt was expensive for household members and not readly available. Household members who used non-iodized salt, used to import from Mainland (Mkoani) especially from Mtwara and Lindi and level of their education was standard seven. Non- iodized salt was easily available at the retail shops with little price compared to iodized salt. The knowledge obtained from these study will assist plan for programme for prevention of IDD, through scaling –up the use of adequately Iodized salt at Temeke Municipal.