Ariyo Oluwaseun, Akintimehin Opeyemi, Taiwo Anuoluwapo Funmilayo, Nwandu Thelma, Olaniyi Bukola Olanrewaju
Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
World Bank Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria Project, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Dialogues Health. 2023 Jul 20;3:100148. doi: 10.1016/j.dialog.2023.100148. eCollection 2023 Dec.
Salt iodization is a positive exemplar of a sustainable public-private partnership in promoting better nutrition outcomes in many countries. However, the gains in the past decades are gradually being eroded, following laxity in policy implementation, monitoring and regulatory roles resulting in increasing access to non-labelled salt in the Nigerian market. This study was designed to evaluate the awareness, practices and perspectives on salt iodization and regulations among salt marketers and consumers in Ibadan, Oyo state. This mixed-method study was carried out in seven major markets across Ibadan metropolis. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 77 salt users/clients, 103 salt vendors, 12 salt wholesalers and four regulators/producers. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on types/brands of salt, handling, retail practices, awareness, and salt purchase preference. Structured in-depth interview was used to elicit information on existing regulations, compliance level, and monitoring activities. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Males constituted 66.7%, 1.0% and 14.3% of respondents among wholesalers, retail vendors, and clients, respectively, with 100.0%, 58.3% and 84.4% having at least primary education. All wholesalers and 30.1% of retail vendors used shaded structure. About 67% of the wholesalers and 58.3% of the retailers sold branded salt. Clients' basis for the use of non-branded salt included cheapness and greater quantity (54.5%), higher intensiveness/saltiness and greater quantity (22.1%), and cheaper cost (18.2%). Only 3% of the consumers were aware of mandatory salt iodization, 3.9% were aware of guidelines on salt marketing and only 18.2% handled salt safely. Safe handling practices were found among all wholesalers and 44.7% of the retailers. Qualitative findings revealed the existence of regulation on the production, packing and marketing of salts in Nigeria, however, enforcement and monitoring at the market level is weak. The demand and use of industrial salt in food preparation remain widespread among consumers in Ibadan, Nigeria following limited awareness of salt iodization programme and its benefits. Regulations on salt marketing should be enforced at all levels and nutrition education on salt iodization should be intensified.
在许多国家，食盐加碘是公私部门可持续合作以促进更好营养成果的一个积极典范。然而，由于政策执行、监测和监管职能松懈，导致尼日利亚市场上无标签食盐的获取日益增加，过去几十年所取得的成果正逐渐受到侵蚀。本研究旨在评估奥约州伊巴丹市食盐销售商和消费者对食盐加碘及相关规定的认知、做法和看法。这项混合方法研究在伊巴丹市的七个主要市场开展。采用三阶段抽样技术选取了77名食盐用户/客户、103名食盐小贩、12名食盐批发商和4名监管者/生产商。通过访谈员管理的问卷收集有关食盐种类/品牌、处理方式、零售做法、认知情况以及食盐购买偏好的信息。采用结构化深度访谈获取有关现有规定、合规水平和监测活动的信息。使用描述性统计分析定量数据。访谈进行录音，逐字转录并进行主题分析。在批发商、零售小贩和客户中，男性分别占受访者的66.7%、1.0%和14.3%，其中100.0%、58.3%和84.4%至少接受过小学教育。所有批发商和30.1%的零售小贩使用遮阳结构。约67%的批发商和58.3%的零售商销售品牌食盐。客户使用非品牌食盐的原因包括价格便宜且量多（54.5%）、味道浓郁/更咸且量多（22.1%）以及成本更低（18.2%）。只有3%的消费者知晓食盐强制加碘，3.9%了解食盐销售指南，只有18.2%安全处理食盐。所有批发商和44.7%的零售商存在安全处理做法。定性研究结果显示，尼日利亚对食盐生产、包装和销售有相关规定，然而，市场层面的执法和监测较为薄弱。在尼日利亚伊巴丹市，由于对食盐加碘计划及其益处的认知有限，工业盐在食品制备中的需求和使用在消费者中仍然普遍存在。应在各级加强食盐销售监管，并强化食盐加碘的营养教育。
