Marzeyeh Soleymani Nejad, Nastaran Keshavarz-Mohammadi, Nasrin Omidvar and Farid Zayeri
High salt intake is one of the most important causes of some serious health problems. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a salt intake reduction intervention based on…
Abstract
Purpose
High salt intake is one of the most important causes of some serious health problems. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a salt intake reduction intervention based on social marketing model in Ahwaz city, Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
This was a before-after study with a control group using social marketing approach. Two similar residential complexes were chosen and randomly assigned into intervention or control groups. One hundred and thirty women were selected in each complex. Formative research was conducted, including focus group discussions (FGDs), a survey to identify cognitive factors of salt intake and a 24-h urine test to estimate salt intake value. Based on the results of the formative research, an intervention was planned and implemented for one month in the intervention group. The postintervention assessment was conducted repeating the cognitive survey and urine test. Statistical tests, including independent T-Test and paired T-Test, were used to compare the experimental and control groups.
Findings
Before the intervention mean salt intake levels were 8,574.41 and 8,282.23 mg/day in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The total mean scores of cognitive and behavioral factors were 25.32 and 26.41 out of 59 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. After the intervention in the intervention group, daily salt intake decreased significantly by 1,558.83 mg/day and mean total scores of cognitive and behavioral factors increased significantly by 10.73.
Research limitations/implications
Due to sodium excretion fluctuations in different days and/or different people, estimating sodium excretion based on one-day sample may have bias. Still, 24-h urine test is the most effective method to estimate population mean salt intake which is used in this study.
Practical implications
The authors could not investigate urine sodium levels in other family members due to resource limitations. Knowing this could help us to see if similar results are achieved.
Originality/value
Despite the lack of public policies to decrease population salt intake, interventions based on social marketing can significantly reduce salt intake. However, the long-term effect of such interventions will require further investigation.
Details
Keywords
Bahareh Seyyedin, Nasrin Omidvar, Bahar Bakhshi, Farid Zayeri and Arezoo Rezazadeh
The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of individual and environmental indicators with body mass-index-for-age-z-score (BAZ) of female adolescents living in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of individual and environmental indicators with body mass-index-for-age-z-score (BAZ) of female adolescents living in the North-West of Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
In this cross-sectional study, 380 female adolescents aged 16-18 years were selected from two major ethnic groups (Azeri and Kurd) in Urmia city selected by stratified cluster sampling method. In total, 13 high schools (9 public and 4 private) were selected across all municipality zones of Urmia city. BAZ was calculated by Anthro-Plus software. Demographic and socioeconomic information of samples were collected by a questionnaire through interviews. Home environment features (including physical activity facilities, television, computer games and social media use, food consumption habits and family rules) and school environment features (including socioeconomic status [SES], physical activity facilities, food consumption habits) were evaluated by two separate self-constructed questionnaires via an interview with adolescents and schools’ deans, respectively.
Findings
Azeri adolescents had parents with higher education and job level and higher SES compared to Kurds (p = 0.000). A higher percent of Azeri adolescents were obese than their Kurd counterparts (p = 0.006). No association was found between individual factors and BAZ in each ethnic group. Considering home environment characteristics, in Kurd adolescents, the maternal occupational level was positively associated with BAZ (p = 0.02). With regard to school environmental features, accessibility of physical activity facilities in school was inversely associated with BAZ only in Kurds (p = 0.005).
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate various environmental factors in association with adolescent’s overweight/obesity prevalence in different ethnical groups in northwest Iran.
Details
Keywords
Maedeh Gordali, Marjan Bazhan, Mohtasham Ghaffari, Nasrin Omidvar and Bahram Rashidkhani
The purpose of this study is to determine how transtheoretical model (TTM) constructions change through nutrition education for fat intake modification among overweight and obese…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to determine how transtheoretical model (TTM) constructions change through nutrition education for fat intake modification among overweight and obese women living in Shazand city, Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
A semi-experimental design with intervention and control groups (50 women in each group) was performed. TTM constructions for dietary fat intake were measured through a questionnaire in four phases: before the intervention, immediately, one month and six months after the intervention. Participants in two groups were classified into inactive and active subgroups, based on their determined stage of change. Then in the intervention group, each subgroup received a separate education program of five or eight sessions for the active and inactive subgroups, respectively.
Findings
The intervention resulted in significant progress in participants' stage of change compared to the control group (p = 0.002). Also, it resulted in an increase in the self-efficacy and decisional balance scores in both of the intervention subgroups, with these effects being more pronounced in the inactive subgroup, and these significant differences, compared to the control group, remained in the third and fourth phases. The intervention also positively impacted the behavioral processes, but this effect was not so long-lasting and decreased after six months.
Originality/value
The results indicated the intervention effectiveness and the necessity of planning educational interventions to change fat consumption behavior. This study provides further insight into effective and sustainable nutrition education strategies based on behavioral change stages rather than traditional approaches. These methods should be used to design group interventions to change individuals' health behavior in future works.