The Complex Role of Cognitive and Behavioral Factors in Salt Intake Levels of Women

BACKGROUND: High salt intake is responsible for some serious health consequences. This study aims to investigate the interrelationship between salt intake cognitive and behavioral factors and urinary sodium excretion levels in women. METHODS: A descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in two residential complexes in Ahvaz city, Iran. 260 female participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data on salt-related cognitive factors, including knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, attitude, intention, self-efficacy, and behavior, were collected using a validated questionnaire. To determine true salt intake, 24-hour urinary sodium excretion level was measured. Data was analyzed using Pearson correlation, one-way Anova, and linear regression tests. RESULTS: 81.2% of the participants’ salt intake was higher than the WHO recommended value (5 grams/day). A significant relationship between sodium excretion level and knowledge (r = –0.332, p < 0.001), attitude (r = –0.144, p = 0.02), behavior (r = –0.130, p = 0.036), and perceived severity (r = –0.135, p = 0.03) was found. An R(2) of 0.134 demonstrates a 13.4% variation in urinary sodium excretion, associated with knowledge and perceived severity. CONCLUSION: Future interventions should aim to improve all the salt-related cognitive factors with placing an emphasis on increasing salt-related knowledge and perceived severity.