4 research outputs found
Knowledge and behaviors regarding salt intake in Mozambique
Background/objectives: 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.
Subjects/methods: 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.
Results: 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.
Conclusions: 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
Five views of a secret: does cognition change during middle adulthood?
This study examined five aspects of change (or
stability) in cognitive abilities in middle adulthood across a
12-year period. Data come from the Interdisciplinary Study
on Adult Development. The sample consisted of N = 346
adults (43.8 years on average, 48.6% female). In total, 11
cognitive tests were administered to assess fluid and crystallized
intelligence, memory, and processing speed. In a
first series of analyses, strong measurement invariance was
established. Subsequently, structural stability, differential
stability, stability of divergence, absolute stability, and the
generality of changes were examined. Factor covariances
were shown to be equal across time, implying structural
stability. Stability coefficients were around .90 for fluid and
crystallized intelligence, and speed, indicating high, yet not
perfect differential stability. The coefficient for memory
was .58. Only in processing speed the variance increased
across time, indicating heterogeneity in interindividual
development. Significant mean-level changes emerged,
with an increase in crystallized intelligence and decline in
the other three abilities. A number of correlations among
changes in cognitive abilities were significant, implying
that cognitive change