Knowledge and behaviors regarding salt intake in Mozambique

Health education and regulatory measures may contribute to lower population salt intake. Therefore, we aimed to describe knowledge and behaviors related to salt intake in Mozambique. A cross-sectional evaluation of a representative sample of the population aged 15-64 years (n = 3116) was conducted i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of clinical nutrition 2018-12, Vol.72 (12), p.1690-1699
Main Authors: Jessen, Neusa, Santos, Artur, Damasceno, Albertino, Silva-Matos, Carla, Severo, Milton, Padrão, Patrícia, Lunet, Nuno
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chronic diseases
Chronic illnesses
Consumption data
Demographic variables
Demographics
Diet
Evaluation
Food
Food and nutrition
Food consumption
Food processing
Health aspects
Health problems
Health risks
Hypertension
Intelligence gathering
Mozambicans
Prepared foods
Risk analysis
Risk factors
Salt
Salt (Food)
Salts
Surveys
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Summary:Health education and regulatory measures may contribute to lower population salt intake. Therefore, we aimed to describe knowledge and behaviors related to salt intake in Mozambique. A cross-sectional evaluation of a representative sample of the population aged 15-64 years (n = 3116) was conducted in 2014/2015, following the Stepwise Approach to Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance, including a 12-question module for evaluation of dietary salt. Three dimensions were identified in the questionnaire, named "self-reported salt intake", "knowledge of health effects of salt intake", and "behaviors for control of salt intake". A total of 7.4% of the participants perceived that they consumed too much/far too much salt and 25.9% reported adding salt/salty seasoning often/always to prepared foods. The proportion considering that it was not important to decrease the salt contents of their diet was 8%, and 16.9% were not aware that high salt intake could be deleterious for health. Prevalences of lack of behaviors for reducing salt intake ranged from 74.9% for not limiting consumption of processed foods, to 95% for not buying low salt alternatives. There were few differences according to socio-demographic variables, but awareness of hypertension was, in general, associated with better knowledge and less frequent behaviors likely to contribute to a high salt intake. Most Mozambicans were aware that high salt intake can cause health problems, but the self-reported salt intake and behaviors for its control show an ample margin for improvement. This study provides evidence to guide population level salt-reducing policies.
ISSN:0954-3007
1476-5640
DOI:10.1038/s41430-018-0125-y