Figure 1: Availability of iodized salt and the type of salt used and its iodine content test result at household level in rural communities of Laelay Maychew District

* Books and students Figure 2: Source of information about iodized salt in rural communities of Laelay Maychew District

Variables	Frequency	Percent
Age (in year)
18-29	137	22.8
30-44	311	51.8
≥45	152	25.3
Religion
Orthodox Christian	598	99.7
Muslim	2	0.3
Ethnicity
Tigray	598	99.7
Amhara	2	0.3
Marital status
Married	551	91.8
Single	12	2.0
Divorced	6	1.0
Widowed	31	5.2
Educational status
Unable to read and write	373	62.2
Able to read and write	62	10.3
Primary (grade1-8)	135	22.5
Secondary (grade9-12) and above	30	5
Occupational status
Housewife	535	89.3
Other *	65	10.7
Household family size
≤5	336	56.0
>5	264	44.0
*farmers, government employees, students and daily laborers Table 1: Socio - demographic characteristics of household female respondents rural communities of Laelay Maychew District

Variables	Frequency	Percent
Type of salt used
Iodized packed-salt	164	27.3
Coarse salt (non-packed)	436	72.7
Sunlight exposure to salt
Yes	16	2.7
No	584	97.3
Washing the salt before use
Yes	19	3.2
No	581	96.8
Salt storage place
Dry area	551	91.8
Moist area	16	2.7
Near to fire	33	5.5
Salt container
With cover	554	92.3
Without cover	46	7.7
Duration of salt storage at household level
≤2 months	290	48.3
>2 months	310	51.7
Time salt is added during food cooking
Early and at the middle of cooking	242	40.3
Late at the end of cooking and after cooking	358	59.7
Distance traveled to get iodized salt
Less than 30minutes	49	29.9
Greater than 30minutes	115	70.1
Table 2: Practice of respondents regarding the use of iodized salt in rural communities of Laelay Maychew District

Variables	Frequency	Percent
Knowledge
Good knowledge	215	35.8
Poor knowledge	385	64.2
Knew effects of iodine deficiency
Yes	363	60.5
No	237	39.5
Heard about iodized salt
Yes	463	77.2
No	137	22.8
Why intake of iodized salt is important?
To prevent from goiter*	328	47.2
To keep healthy*	197	28.3
To prevent iodine deficiency disorders*	124	17.8
To grow well*	46	6.6
Every salt contains iodine
Yes	181	30.2
No	266	44.3
Do not know	153	25.5
The taste of iodized salt is different from that of common salt
Yes	277	46.2
No	170	28.3
Do not know	153	25.3
*Multiple responses Table 3: Knowledge of respondents regarding the importance of iodized salt in rural communities of Laelay Maychew District

Variables	Availability of iodized salt at household level		Crude OR (95% CI)	Adjusted OR (95% CI)
	≥15ppm	<15ppm
Age (in years)
18-29	77	60	4.29[2.59-7.12]*	1.80[0.99- 3.23]
30-44	86	225	1.28[0.81-2.01]	0.83[0.50-1.36]
≥45	35	117	1	1
Education
No formal education	108	327	1	1
Formal education	90	75	3.63[2.495-5.291]*	2.07[1.27-3.39]*
Knowledge
Good knowledge	111	104	3.66[2.55-5.23]*	2.11 [1.37-3.25]*
Poor knowledge	87	298	1	1
Salt container
With cover	189	365	2.13[1.01-4.50]*	1.23[0.55-2.78]
No cover	9	37	1	1
Place of Storage
Dry area	189	362	2.32[1.10-4.88]*	1.76[0.79-3.93]
Moist and Heat area	9	40	1	1
Having radio
Yes	100	150	1.71[1.22-2.42]*	1.17[0.76-1.80]
No	98	252	1	1
Duration of storage (in months)
≤2 months	118	171	2.04[1.44-2.88]*	1.61[1.10-2.35]*
>2 months	79	231	1
*P-value is significant at α < 0.05; OR- Odds Ratio; CI- Confidence Interval Table 4: Variables associated with the availability of adequately iodized salt at household level in rural communities of Laelay Maychew District