Strengthening national salt reduction strategies using multiple methods process evaluations: case studies from Malaysia and Mongolia.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the extent to which national salt reduction strategies in Malaysia and Mongolia were implemented and achieving their intended outcomes. DESIGN: Multiple methods process evaluations conducted at the mid-point of strategy implementation, guided by theoretical frameworks. SETTING: Malaysia (2018-2019) and Mongolia (2020-2021). PARTICIPANTS: Desk-based reviews of related documents, interviews with key stakeholders (n 12 Malaysia, n 10 Mongolia), focus group discussions with health professionals in Malaysia (n 43) and health provider surveys in Mongolia (n 12). RESULTS: Both countries generated high-quality local evidence about salt intake and levels in foods and culturally specific education resources. In Malaysia, education and reformulation activities were delivered with moderate dose (quantity) but reach among the population was low. Within 5 years, Mongolia implemented education among schools, health professionals and food producers on salt reduction with high reach, but with moderate dose (quantity) and reach among the general population. Both countries faced challenges in implementing legislative interventions (mandatory salt labelling and salt limits in packaged foods) and both could improve the scaling up of their reformulation and education activities. CONCLUSIONS: In the first half of Malaysia's and Mongolia's strategies, both countries generated necessary evidence and education materials, mobilised health professionals to deliver salt reduction education and achieved small-scale reformulation in foods. Both subsequently should focus on implementing regulatory policies and achieving population-wide reach and impact. Process evaluations of existing salt reduction strategies can help strengthen intervention delivery, aiding achievement of WHO's 30 % reduction in salt intake by 2025 target.

Evaluation of salt intake estimated from 24-h urinary sodium excretion in medical professionals in Darkhan-Uul Province, Mongolia: a cross-sectional study.

This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the daily salt intake of medical professionals working in public health facilities in Darkhan-Uul Province, Mongolia. We conducted a multiple logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with their consumption of salt exceeding the recommended daily salt intake (≥ 5 g/day). A self-administered questionnaire and 24-h urine samples were used to obtain data on the participants' salt intake. Of 338 participants, 159 completed the 24-h urine collection. The mean sodium excretion into urine was 122.3 mmol/day, which was equivalent to a mean salt intake of 7.7 g/day when the urinary excretion rate was considered as 93%. Body mass index was positively correlated with excess salt intake (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.46), while age was negatively correlated with excess salt intake (AOR: 0.95; 95% CI 0.91-1.00). Participants who consumed ≥ 2 cups of salted suutei tsai (Mongolian milk tea) daily had a higher risk of consuming ≥ 5 g/day of salt than those who consumed ≤ 1 cup/day. The average estimated salt intake of the participants was higher than the recommended value. Medical professionals should be aware of factors associated with excessive salt consumption and make appropriate adjustments to minimize it.

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

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.

Complementary feeding practices and associated factors among Mongolian children 6-23 months of age.

Little is known about factors influencing children's dietary intake in Mongolia, a country undergoing rapid nutrition transition. Using nationally representative data from the 2017 Mongolia National Nutrition Survey, we assessed the nutritional status of children aged <2 years and examined household, maternal, and child factors associated with feeding practices among children aged 6-23 months (n = 938). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of minimum meal frequency (MMF), minimum dietary diversity (MDD), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD). The prevalence of child stunting (length/height-for-age Z-score < -2 SD) was 6.3%, and the prevalence of overweight (weight-for-height Z-score > +2 SD) was 16.8%. The prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency was 39.0% and 32.2%, respectively, and 73.5% and 85.5% of children had inadequate vitamin A and vitamin D status, respectively. Of children aged 6-23 months, 92.1% (n = 864) had MMF, 49.6% (n = 465) had MDD, and 43.8% (n = 411) achieved MAD. Increased household wealth was positively associated with all three indicators, whereas severe food insecurity was not associated with MMF, MDD, or MAD. Older child age (odds ratio, 95% CI: 1.09 [1.06, 1.12]; p < .001) and maternal dietary diversity (odds ratio, 95% CI: 2.36 [1.67, 3.34]; p < .001) were positively associated with child MDD. Nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive efforts are needed to improve the dietary quality of infants and young children in Mongolia and reduce the high burdens of child micronutrient deficiency and overweight in the country.