Awareness on usage of iodized salt and its treatment effect among dental students

Abstract

Iodised salt is table salt mixed with minute amounts of the element iodine. The ingestion of iodine prevents iodine deficiency. Worldwide, iodine deficiency affects about two billion people and is the leading preventable cause of intellectual and development disabilities. To create awareness among dental students on the iodizied salt and its treatment effect on iodine deficiency. The questionnaire was based on the observational cross-sectional type of study comprising 100 dental students from the Saveetha Dental College. A self-administered questionnaire was given to the students. It was designed to collect data on the use of iodized salt among dental students through an online survey mode containing a set of 10 questions about the use of iodized salt and is a yes or no type. The results were evaluated based on the answers given by the participants. 84% of the dental students use iodised salt, which is more than half but still, the rest of them did not use iodized salt. 26% of dental students have an iodine deficiency. 83% of the students use iodized salt for cooking. 61 % of the students think that iodised salt is healthy. 32% students have answered that sea salt and 7% Himalayan salt is healthy. 65% of the dental students were aware of average salt consumption per day. Majority of the dental students were aware of iodized salt and its treatment effect on iodine deficiency. However, more needs to create on its adverse effects and its role in dietary intake of iodine.