Determinants of Iodised Salt Utilisation among Households with Children Under-Five in Ghana

Öz

Background: Given the deleterious effects of iodine deficiency on human health especially children, most nations including Ghana have adopted universal iodisation drives using iodised salt. However, for the success of such drives, it is imperative to know the factors that influence the utilisation of iodised salt in order to inform relevant policies. This study therefore, investigated factors that influence iodised salt utilisation among households with children under-five in Ghana.

Methods: The study sourced data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey whiles the ordered probit model was the empirical estimation technique employed.

Results: It was revealed that, the Ga/Dangme ethnicity, having uneducated mothers and partners, mothers with big monetary challenges in seeking medical care, rising child’s birth order and age of the household head, and staying in all the regions of Ghana except the Western region (using the Upper West region as the reference region) decreased the likelihood of iodised salt utilisation, though households in the Upper East region had an insignificant coefficient. Further, urban, wealthy, Christian and Islamic households were found to be more likely to use iodised salt relative to rural, non-rich and traditional/spiritualist/no religion faith households respectively.

Conclusion: The study therefore concludes that paying so much attention to socio-economic and cultural factors could be effective tools in ensuring iodised salt utilisation.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Demand for Child Health,Ghana,Iodine Deficiency Disorders,Iodised Salt Utilisation,Universal Iodisation,Malnutrition

Gana'da Beş Yaş Altı Çocuklu Hanelerde İyotlu Tuz Kullanımının Belirleyicileri

Öz

Amaç: Özellikle çocuklarda iyot eksikliğinin insan sağlığı üzerindeki zararlı etkileri göz önüne alındığında, Gana dahil birçok ülke iyotlu tuz kullanarak evrensel iyotlaştırma hamlelerini benimsemiştir. Ancak, bu türden hamlelerin başarısı için, ilgili politikaları belirlemek amacıyla iyotlu tuzun kullanımını etkileyen faktörleri bilmek zorunludur. Bu çalışma, Gana'da beş yaşından küçük çocuklu hanelerde iyotlu tuz kullanımını etkileyen faktörleri araştırmıştır.

Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışma verileri 2014 Gana demografik ve sağlık anketi  kaynaklıdır aynı zamanda sıralı probit modeli kullanılan ampirik tahmin tekniği oldu.

Bulgular: Ga / Dangme etnik kökeni, annelerin ve partnerlerin eğitimsiz olması, tıbbi bakım aramakta  büyük parasal güçlükleri olan anneler, çocuğun artan doğum sırası ve hane reisinin yaşı  ve Gana'nın Batı bölgesi (referans bölgesi olarak Yukarı Batı bölgesini kullanarak) hariç Yukarı Doğu bölgesindeki hanehalklarının önemsiz bir katsayıya sahip olmasına rağmen, tüm bölgelerinde yaşama iyotlu tuz kullanımı olasılığını azaltığı ortaya çıkmıştır. Dahası, kentsel, varlıklı, Hıristiyan ve Müslüman hane halklarının, sırasıyla, kırsal, zengin olmayan ve geleneksel / maneviyat / dini inancı olmayan hane halkına göre iyotlu tuz kullanma olasılıkları daha yüksek bulunmuştur.

Sonuç: Bu nedenle çalışma sosyo-ekonomik ve kültürel faktörlere çok fazla dikkat etmenin iyotlu tuz kullanımını sağlamada etkili araçlar olabileceği sonucuna varmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Çocuk Sağlığı Talepleri,Gana,İyot Eksikliği Bozuklukları,İyotlu Tuz Kullanımı,Evrensel İyotlama,Yetersiz beslenme

Kaynakça

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