Abstract:
Background: Insufficient amount of iodine in edible salt is the problem of most countries in world including Africa. Only 15.4% of the population of Ethiopia was using adequately iodized salt. Evidences showed that several factors found to affect contents of iodine in salt including poor handling practices by the household. Objectives: To assess iodine content of salt used at household level and associated· factors in Dera District. Method: -Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1194 households in Dera district using structured and pre-tested questionnaire via interview. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the households. A 50gm salt samples were collected and necessary laboratory reagents, working solutions, and lab apparatus were prepared as analytical standard and salt samples were tested its iodine content in the laboratory and data was collected, cleaned and analyzed. Association was considered as statistically significant when p-value is < 0.05 in multivariable logistic regression. Result:-One thousand and one hundred ninety four (1194) salt samples were collected and tested for iodine content, out of which 57.4% were found between 15ppm - 59.42ppm. Among the factors associated with iodine content, 75.9% of households have had good knowledge about iodine and 100, 66.8% of households were covered their salt container, 78.6% of households were stored their salt in dry area, and 83.5% of the households were stored their salt for less than 2 month in their house and 31.5% of the households, were found with properly practiced, out of which, 88.2% were found with WHO recommended level and above. Conclusion and recommendation: From the total of 1194 salt samples collected at each HHs, 57.4% of them were found with adequate iodine level however, it is very low compared to ICCIOO/WHO recommended level (90%). Age of households head, education of HHs head, storage time and storage place, knowledge of HHs and covering pattern were independently associated with availability of iodized salt. Effective intervention for the factors associated to availability of iodized salt shall be designed and implemented by the responsible body.