Volume : 7, Issue : 1, January - 2018

A Study on the Knowledge and Practice of use of Iodized Salt among the slum dwellers of Guwahati City, Assam.

Dr. Shashanka Shekhar Chakraborty, Dr. Jutika Ojah, Dr. Kumaril Goswami

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Background:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"> Iodine is considered to be one of the most essential micronutrient for the normal physical and mental development of human being<b>. </b>Globally, India has the largest number of children born vulnerable to iodine deficiency<b> Aims</b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">:</span> The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of use of iodized salt among the slum population of Guwahati City, Assam<b> Settings and Design</b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">:<b> </b></span>Cross</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:&quot;MS Mincho&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&#10;&quot;MS Mincho&quot;"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:&#10;&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">sectional study was conducted among 400 households of slum area of Guwahati City, Assam. <b>Materials and Methods: </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">A pretested and pre designed proforma was used for collection of information. <b>Results:</b></span> It has been seen from the survey that among the households under study, 84.25% have heard about iodized salt.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span>It has been found that television and radio (89.6%) have been the most effective source of information regarding iodized salt. In our study, 24.5% of respondents believe that every salt contains iodine. <b>Conclusions</b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:&#10;bold">:</span> Based on the observations we would like to come in a conclusion that </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;&#10;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN">people must be made aware of the importance of iodine in the diet to ensure physical &amp; mental well-being, especially for expectant mothers and young children.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;&#10;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><o:p></o:p></span></p>