Adequate Iodized Salt Supply: A Key Success Factor to Impact Goiter Prevalence Rate in Highly Endemic Areas in Ethiopia
Asrat Dibaba *
World Vision International, East Africa Region, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tigist Mamo
World Vision Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Sisay Sinamo
World Vision International, East Africa Region, Nairobi, Kenya.
Etsub Brhanesillasie
World Vision Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this article is to inform participants on the key lessons learned from implementing interventions to impact iodine deficiency as part the World Vision Ethiopia micronutrient and health project which was operational for eight years (1997-2005).
Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used to conduct a baseline, midterm and final evaluation. The study covered 8 intervention project woredas/district and two comparison sites. Three successive surveys were conducted to assess the impact of the interventions. 5,996 households including pregnant and lactating mothers were interviewed and participated in iodized salt testing and 2997 students clinically examined for goiter rating.
Results: At the end of the project, 39.8% of women of childbearing age identified the two major causes of goiter (iodine deficiency and food related) correctly. This proportion was higher than that in the baseline (7.9%) and comparison site at end line (11.4%) (p=0.000). Lower proportion of mothers (15.1%) reported that they lacked knowledge about the treatment of goiter, compared to 46.6% at baseline and 44.9% at comparison areas. The prevalence of palpable and visible goiter at the end of the project (30.9%) was lower compared to the baseline (42.4%) (p=000). This change would have been higher if there was continuous supply of iodized salt. This was shown during iodized salt testing done at the end of the survey where almost all households (97.7%) do not have iodized salt.
Conclusions: Though effective education increased the knowledge lack of adequate supply of iodized salt affected iodized salt utilization and its impact on total goiter rate.