Current salt reduction policies across gradients of inequality-adjusted human development in the WHO European region: minding the gaps

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Rodriguez-Fernandez, R. (Author) Other; Siopa, Margarida (Author) FCNAUP; Simpson, S. (Author) Other; Amiya, R. (Author) Other; Breda, J. (Author) Other; Cappuccio, F. (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Public Health Nutrition

Vol. 17 No. 8

Pages: 1894-1904

ISSN: 1368-9800

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Science

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

CORDIS: Health sciences

Other information

DOI: 10.1017/S136898001300195X

Abstract (EN): Objective: To assess current salty reduction policies in countries of the WHO European Region against the backdrop of varying levels of human development adjusted for income, education and health (longevity) inequalities. Design: Population-based, cross-sectional study, with data gathered through systematic review of relevant databases and supplementary information provided by WHO Nutrition Counterparts. Setting: Member States of the WHO European Region. Subjects: Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index scores were analysed against assessed levels of development and implementation of national nutrition policies and initiatives targeting population-level salt reduction. Results: Within the WHO European Region, Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index values among countries with no existing salt reduction initiatives (mean 0 .643 (SE 0.022)) were significantly lower than among those with either partially implemented/planned salt initiatives (mean 0.766 (SE 0.017), P<0.001) or fully implemented salt initiatives (mean 0.780 (SE 0.021), P<0.001). Conclusions: Where salt reduction strategies are implemented as an integral part of national policy, outcomes have been promising. However, low-and middle-income countries may face severe resource constraints that keep them from emulating more comprehensive strategies pursued in high-income countries. Care must be taken to ensure that gaps are not inadvertently widened by monitoring differential policy impacts of salt policies, particularly regarding trade flows.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: <a href="http://gateway.isiknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=WOS&DestLinkType=FullRecord&KeyUT=000340164600025">Indexado na ISI Web of Science</a>