Factors Related to Lacking Knowledge on the Recommended Daily Salt Intake among Medical Professionals in Mongolia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Naoko Hikita, Enkhtungalag Batsaikhan, Satoshi Sasaki, Megumi Haruna, Ariunaa Yura and Otgontogoo Oidovsuren
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Naoko Hikita: Graduate Program of Midwifery, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan
Enkhtungalag Batsaikhan: Department of Nutrition Research of the National Center for Public Health, Ulaanbaatar 210349, Mongolia
Satoshi Sasaki: Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Megumi Haruna: Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Ariunaa Yura: Darkhan-Uul General Hospital, Darkhan-Uul 45051, Mongolia
Otgontogoo Oidovsuren: Darkhan-Uul Medical School, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Darkhan-Uul 45051, Mongolia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: medical professionals; knowledge; practices; salt intake; Mongolia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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