Identifying correlates of salt reduction practices among rural, middle-aged Muslim Indonesians with hypertension through structural equation modeling

Background: In 2016, the World Health Organization recommended salt reduction strategies. In most low- and middle-income countries, little is known about what causes people to reduce their salt intake. Aim: In rural West Java, Indonesia, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to describe self-reported salt reduction practices among middle-aged Muslims with hypertension (n = 447) and to identify correlates of salt reduction. Methods: We developed a questionnaire with Likert scales to measure self-reported frequency of efforts to reduce salt intake, and degree of agreement/disagreement with 51 statements about variables hypothesized to influence salt reduction practices. We compared groups using t-tests and one-way ANOVAs. Through one-factor confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, we identified correlates of salt reduction practices. Results: About 45% of participants reported regularly reducing their salt intake; only 12.8% reported never attempting. Men reported higher social barriers, while women reported higher family support and spiritual support. Overall, we found that participants’ frequency of effort to reduce their salt intake was associated with a constellation of six correlates. Salt reduction practices were directly positively associated with prior health/illness experiences (β = 0.25), and by seeking health information (β = 0.24). Seeking health information was in turn positively associated with prior health/illness experiences (β = 0.34), receiving support from health professionals (β = 0.23) and Islamic spiritual practice (β = 0.24). Salt reduction practices were negatively associated with environmental barriers to healthful eating practices (β = -0.14). Conclusion: In this population, reinforcing positive correlates identified in this study and mitigating against negative correlates may foster salt reduction practices.