The factors related to excess salt and sodium consumption among population in 4 provinces

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate factors related to excess salt and sodium consumption among population aged 20-69 years in four provinces: Phayao, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Amnat Charoen. The study was conducted from February to May 2021, two stages stratified cluster sampling was used to randomly select 360 samples in each province and weighted population was used to design weight with an adjustment by post-stratification. The research instruments composed of personal factors, health status, and health behavior questionnaire. The body weight, height, and blood pressure were measured, and 24-hour urine collection were conducted. Sodium intake level was estimated by 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. The data were analyzed by complex analysis, using weighted percentage, weighted means, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. The findings revealed that weighted mean sodium consumption per day in 4 provinces was 3,236.8 mg with 75% of the total population consuming more than 2,000 mg of sodium. The factors that related to excess salt and sodium consumption among population statistically significant (p<0.05) were as follows: aged 20-29 years (adj. OR =2.33), overweight and obesity (adj. OR =2.03) and higher fruit and vegetable intake (adj. OR=1.75). The other variables were not statistically significant as female gender (adj.OR =1.31), living in urban area (adj. OR =1.21), high income (>10,000 Baht per month) (adj. OR =1.49), low estimated health score (adj. OR=1.36), higher education level (adj. OR=1.43), and less exercise (adj.OR=1.93). The Hypertensive state, buying food and cooking were not related to excess salt and sodium consumption. The results of this study should be considered for planning in promoting health literacy, providing policy-based population-approached interventions and providing social epidemiology surveillance to reduce salt and sodium consumption in Thai population.