Adequacy Of Salt Iodization, Retailers’ Knowledge And Associated Factors About Iodized Salt In Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne, Ethiopia

Abstract Background There are laws to enforce the universal iodization of salt to check the consequences of iodine deficiency in Ethiopia. These laws are to ensure that there are production and sales of iodized salt in the country. Yet, the adequacy of iodized salt in the retailers’ level is not determined. Objective This study is aimed to investigate the adequacy of salt iodization, retailers’ knowledge, and associated factors about iodized salt among retailers in Addis Ababa surrounding finfinne Special Zone, Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 202 iodized salt retailers that were selected by using a simple random sampling technique. Data among the shop retailers for the assessment of knowledge was collected by using a structured questionnaire, and titration test method was done to determine the adequacy of salt iodization. The data management and analysis were done by using Statistical Packages for Social Scientists Version 23. Descriptive statistics such as mean, median, standard deviation, and frequency were computed to describe the data. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to examine the association between the dependent and independent variables. The strength of association between the dependent and independent variables was explained by using the odds ratio and the level of statistical significance was accepted at a p-value of less than 0.05. Finally, the results were presented by using graphs and tables. Result A total of 202 salt retailers were approached in this study with a mean age of 28.78±7.548 years. Nearly around two-thirds of the study participants were male. Of the total retailers’ salt samples, 95(57.2%) were adequately (20-40ppm) iodized, and the educational level of the retailers was significantly associated with the adequacy of salt iodization. From the total salt retailer, 113(55.9%) had good knowledge, and retailers who heard about iodized salt (AOR=0.043, CI: 0.017-0.109, p<0.001) and having legal framework/law (AOR=0.24, CI: 0.098-0.61, p=0.003) that prohibits the selling of non-iodized salt were significantly associated with good knowledge level. Conclusion and Recommendation Still policies have been implemented to promote the production and consumption of iodized salt, the iodine content of salt in retail shops in the Oromia Special Zone Finfinne, Oromia regional state is not encouraging. We recommend the establishment of checkpoints along the production and distribution chain to ensure salt with adequate iodine reaches the consumer. Again, traders of iodized salt should have regular training on ways to preserve salt to maintain its iodine content