Table 2.
Participants’ information regarding iodine health importance and its deficiency in Dessie and Combolcha residents, June 2017
| Items | Frequency | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Have ever heard about Iodine? | ||
| Yes | 403 | 80.6 |
| No | 97 | 19.4 |
| Sources of information for iodine | ||
| From friends and relatives only | 22 | 5.5 |
| From Health Extension Workers only | 140 | 34.7 |
| From Television only | 142 | 35.2 |
| From Health extension workers and Television | 99 | 24.6 |
| Respondents response on the effect of IDD (n = 403) | ||
| Goiter only | 303 | 75.2 |
| Goiter, abortion, mental retardation and cretinism | 77 | 19.2 |
| cancer | 1 | 0.2 |
| anemia | 1 | 0.2 |
| Did not know | 21 | 5.2 |
| Do you know Goiter? | ||
| Yes | 461 | 92.2 |
| No | 39 | 7.8 |
| Causes of goiter | ||
| Iodine deficiency | 364 | 72.8 |
| Hereditary | 42 | 8.4 |
| Evil | 21 | 4.0 |
| Infection | 70 | 14.0 |
| Poisoning | 24 | 4.8 |
| Is IDD preventable? | ||
| Yes | 417 | 83.4 |
| No | 83 | 16.6 |
| Know dietary sources of iodine | ||
| Yes | 126 | 25.2 |
| No | 358 | 71.6 |
| Not sure | 16 | 3.2 |
| Do you buy iodized salt? | ||
| Yes | 394 | 78.8 |
| No | 106 | 21.2 |
| Site of production (package place) | ||
| Afdera | 136 | 27.2 |
| Mesobo | 56 | 11.2 |
| Open | 125 | 25.0 |
| Shewit | 183 | 36.6 |
| Reason for buying iodide salt | ||
| Good for health only | 347 (69.4) | 69.4 |
| Advice from health professional | 31 (6.2) | 6.2 |
| Has no option | 32 (6.4) | 6.4 |
| Did not buy | 90 (18.0) | 18.0 |
| Types of pack | ||
| Packed | 395 (79.0) | 79.0 |
| Unpacked | 105 (21.0) | 21.0 |
| Do you know the benefits of iodized salt? | ||
| Yes | 392 (78.4) | 78.4 |
| No | 108 (21.6) | 21.6 |
| Benefit of iodized salt (n = 392) | ||
| Has good taste and palatability | 113 (28.8) | 28.8 |
| Prevent goiter and other IDDs | 279 (71.2) | 71.2 |
| Preference for salt | ||
| Iodized | 402 (80.4) | 80.4 |
| Non-iodized | 32 (6.4) | 6.4 |
| No preference | 66 (13.2) | 13.2 |