An investigation on current situation of salt sales outlets in Hangzhou after the reform of salt industry system / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the situation of salt sales and education on prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders in salt sales outlets in Hangzhou after the reform of salt industry system, and provide a basis for promotion of scientific iodine supplementation for the public.Methods:In 2020, 4 townships (towns, streets) were selected from 13 districts (counties, cities) of Hangzhou by stratified sampling method. Each township (town, street) delimited 5 survey areas according to the directions of east, west, south, north and middle, and a salt sales place was selected as the survey site in each investigation area. A face-to-face questionnaire was used to investigate the sales of salt in sales outlets and the publicity and education of iodine deficiency disorders prevention and treatment.Results:A total of 238 edible salt sales outlets were effectively investigated, including 113 urban outlets, 78 suburban outlets, and 47 rural outlets; 55.9% (133/238) of the outlets sold non-iodized salt. A total of 68 072 bags of small packaged salt were sold every month, the overall sales of iodized salt was significantly higher than that of non-iodized salt ( Z = - 2.865, P < 0.05), and the sales of iodized salt in urban and suburban sales outlets were higher than that of non-iodized salt ( Z = - 2.313, - 2.237, P < 0.05). The sales of salt in urban and suburban sales outlets were the highest with the price of 2-5 yuan of salt, accounting for 78.6% (33 562/42 705) and 82.3% (13 970/16 979), respectively; in rural sales outlets, with the price of 1-2 yuan of salt was the highest, accounting for 72.8% (6 110/8 388). Among the 238 salt sales outlets, 29.4% (70/238) of the outlets had set up a prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders sign, and 39.9% (95/238) of the outlets salt sales staff known "recommended salt for pregnant women", 31.1% (74/238) of the outlets whose salt sales staff had actively informed salt buyers about the prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders. The total monthly sales of salt and the sales of iodized salt at outlets where the prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders signs were set up and the salt sales staff were aware of the "recommended salt for pregnant women" were higher than outlets where no signs were set up and the sales staff were not aware ( Z = - 3.733, - 3.722, - 2.109, - 2.324, P < 0.05). Conclusions:After the reform of salt industry system, the iodized salt supply of salt sales outlets in Hangzhou is sufficient. With the increase of non-iodized salt supply channels, we should strengthen the active publicity and education on prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders in the sales section.