Codes and Frequencies
Description
SALTIODIZE (HV222) reports the type of salt the household uses for cooking, with an emphasis on whether the salt is known to be iodized. Iodized salt may prevent iodine deficiency, and thus protect against brain damage during child development and pregnancy.
The information in SALTIODIZE is taken from the household record and applies to regular household residents, not temporary visitors. Researchers may wish to exclude visitors using the RESIDENT variable when women, children, or births are the unit of analysis, and using the HHRESIDENT variable when household members are the unit of analysis.
Comparability
In addition to universe differences, response categories for SALTIODIZE (HV222) differ somewhat across samples. To maximize comparability, IPUMS-DHS uses composite coding. Salts of know iodized status have a common first digit of 1; other salts have a first digit of 2. Detailed categories within these broad groups are distinguished by the second digit (e.g., Iodized packaged salt = 11).
Comparability - Standard DHS
SALTIODIZE (HV222) is included in the standard DHS household questionnaire for Phases III and IV, "to assess the presence of iodine in the diet."
Universe
- Burkina Faso 1998: All women age 15-49.
- Cameroon 1998: All women age 15-49.
- Central African Republic 1995: All women age 15-49.
- Chad 1996: All women age 15-49.
- Egypt 1995: Ever-married women age 15-49.
- Ghana 1998: All women age 15-49.
- Guinea 1999: All women age 15-49.
- Jordan 1997: Ever-married women age 15-49.
- Madagascar 1997: Women age 15-49 in households that agreed to show the salt used to cook the main meal the previous day.
- Nepal 1996: Ever-married women age 15-49.
- Niger 1998: All women age 15-49.
- Nigeria 1999: All women age 15-49.
- Uganda 1995: All women age 15-49.
