Factors Related to Lacking Knowledge on the Recommended Daily Salt Intake among Medical Professionals in Mongolia: A Cross-Sectional Study.
In Mongolia, the recommendations are to restrict salt intake to less than 5 g/day to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to reveal factors associated with not knowing the recommended daily salt intake among medical professionals in Mongolia. Of the recruited 538 medical professionals working at public health facilities in Darkhan-Uul Province, the data from 338 (62.8%), obtained using self-administered questionnaires, were analyzed. Among these, 175 (51.8%) did not know the recommended daily salt intake. Compared with medical doctors, midwives and nurses had higher odds of not knowing the recommendations (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 4.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-12.59; AOR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.15-3.76, respectively). Compared to participants who consumed more than four cups/day of salted suutei tsai (Mongolian milk tea), those who consumed approximately two cups/week had lower odds of not knowing the recommendations (AOR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.07-0.63). With most participants lacking accurate knowledge on this topic, and considering that people who are aware of the recommendations are more likely to take action to reduce dietary salt intake, it is imperative to urgently address this knowledge deficit because medical professionals have a responsibility to educate the community by disseminating accurate health information.
['Hikita|Naoko|N|', 'Batsaikhan|Enkhtungalag|E|', 'Sasaki|Satoshi|S|', 'Haruna|Megumi|M|', 'Yura|Ariunaa|A|', 'Oidovsuren|Otgontogoo|O|']
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006801:Humans D008986:Mongolia D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
knowledge salt intake medical professionals Mongolia practices