European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and nutritional anaemia continue to be the most significant public health issues in low- and middle-income nations, including India. The purpose of this study was to investigate qualitatively the reasons and causes for low double-fortified salt (DFS) consumption. Thus, we investigated the knowledge gap about DFS utilisation by women in rural Puducherry and to evaluate the efficacy of the educational intervention. Methods: Over the course of six months, a community-based qualitative study was undertaken with 50 rural women. After gaining informed permission, five Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were performed, followed by the production of health education materials (a flipbook) and intervention. For transcripts, a manual thematic content analysis was performed. The readability and comprehensibility of the instructional content were evaluated to ensure its effectiveness. Result: The participants' mean age was 25.30 ± 4.25 years. Misconceptions regarding DFS include that "chemicals were put in the salt" and "it harms people's health," among others. The education material score indicates that it was somewhat to relatively simple to comprehend and implement. About 98% of respondents indicated that their understanding of DFS has expanded. Conclusion: Existing knowledge regarding DFS use was limited, and this study demonstrated the positive influence of education on its usability. To sustain DFS utilisation, a need-based, culturally contextualised nutritional intervention on the significance and advantages of DFS is necessary. Additionally, community knowledge gained through the active engagement of grassroots workers and behaviour change communication may affect the favourable attitude of households regarding DFS consumption