Awareness and Availability of Low Sodium Iodized Salt: Results from Formative Research of Promoting Uptake of Low SodiUm Iodized Salt by Rural and Urban HousehoLds in India-The PLURAL Study

Dietary sodium intake is high among adults in India. Use of low sodium iodized salt (LSIS) can help reduce sodium intake. However, contextually relevant and culturally appropriate interventions to promote LSIS uptake in India have not been developed and implemented. We carried out formative research to inform an intervention to promote uptake of LSIS among rural and urban households in north (Sonipat district) and south (Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts) India. Sixty-two in-depth interviews of six focus groups were held with a range of stakeholders-consumers, retailers and influencers. Participant views on availability, affordability, taste and safety of LSIS, along with views on hypertension, its risk factors and potential intervention design and delivery strategies were elicited. Thematic analysis of the data was carried out. While the awareness of hypertension and its risk factors was high among the participants, awareness of LSIS was low. There was also low demand for, and availability of, LSIS. Since cost of LSIS was higher than regular salt, participants preferred that a subsidy be provided to offset the cost. Based on these findings, an intervention to promote the uptake of LSIS was implemented by project staff using various educational materials such as posters, pamphlets and short videos.