Salt production and iodization practices among artisanal salt producers in selected districts within the Greater Accra and Central Regions of Ghana

Abstract

BackgroundThis study was conducted to assess salt production and iodization practices by artisanal salt producers located at six districts across Greater Accra and Central regions. MethodsOne Hundred and Sixty-Six (166) salt miners in Greater Accra and Central Regions were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and their production sites inspected for salt iodization practices. ResultsThe study revealed that salt iodization is not practiced among majority (69.28 %) of artisanal salt producers. They were conversant with salt iodization (93.98 %) and had fair knowledge on the health effects on consumers when iodine is absent in salt. Some of the producers attributed the nonadherence to the mandatory salt iodization to the unavailability of potassium iodate/iodide on the market. All artisanal salt producers interviewed utilise the solar evaporation method for salt production. The evaporation is done on tarpaulin/polyethylene lined pans and concrete pans. The tarpaulin/polyethylene lined pans were predominantly used in Greater Accra, and concrete pans in Central region. ConclusionFor Ghana to increase availability of iodized salt on the market and improve household consumption of iodized salt, regulatory authorities need to enforce the laws and regulations on salt iodization and also create the enabling environment for artisanal salt producer to have access to potassium iodate for production.