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

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