Empowering Coastal Communities through the Iodized Salt Awareness Movement: Integrating Marine Resource Utilization and Public Health Efforts in Purworejo

Iodine deficiency continues to pose a major public health challenge in several Indonesian coastal regions, even though these areas possess great potential for salt production. This research sought to design and assess a community-based intervention model, the Iodized Salt Awareness Movement (ISAM), as an integrated strategy that combines nutrition education, simple iodization technology, and local economic empowerment in Purworejo Regency, Central Java. Using a participatory mixed-method approach, the program included health education for key community members, technical mentoring for salt farmers in producing iodized salt through tunnel geomembrane technology, and laboratory testing to ensure compliance with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 3556:2024). Results indicated a significant improvement in participants' knowledge regarding iodized salt (mean score increased from 71.8 to 82.1; p < 0.05) and the establishment of community-based microenterprises producing SNI-compliant salt. Collaboration between local government, academia, and community groups fostered behavioral change and improved access to safe and nutritious salt. This model demonstrates how a multisectoral approach, linking public health, coastal resource utilization, and local economic development, can bolster nutrition resilience and contribute to the sustainable reduction of iodine deficiency disorders in Indonesia.