Association of Inadequately Iodized Salt Use With Underweight Among Young Children in India. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, Santosh; Berkman, Lisa F.
• Is Part Of: Asia-Pacific journal of public health. Volume 27:Number 2(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 185
• Page End: 194
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: underweight -- iodized salt -- iodine deficiency disorder -- malnutrition -- India; Public health -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Public health -- Asia -- Periodicals; 362.1095
• DOI: 10.1177/1010539513477683
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1010-5395

Abstract

This article explores the association between use of inadequately iodized cooking salt and underweight among young children in India. Considerable variation was found in the use of non-iodized salt (0 parts per million) across regions, economic status, and social groups. Results show that economic status and social affiliation of the households were the important predictors of non-iodized salt usage. Moreover, results from the multinomial logit model show that use of inadequately iodized salt is significantly associated with lower weight-for-age Z score, after adjusting for potential confounding variables. Nonuse of adequately iodized (15+ parts per million) salt is statistically associated with moderate underweight (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-1.11) and with severe underweight (RRR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.15-1.21). Concerted effort is needed to correct the inequity in the access to iodized salt to improve the nutritional status of children in India.