Aim:

Implement a population-level intervention to replace common salt (which has a high sodium content) with a low-sodium, high-potassium salt substitute in order to reduce blood pressure levels among adults aged 18 years and older in Tumbes.

Study design:

This implementation research study includes an exploratory component and a field intervention/applied component. In the exploratory component, qualitative methodologies will be used: focus group, in-depth interviews and a discriminative form of a sensory analysis based on a taste test. The results obtained at this stage will alllow to build a social marketing campaign to guarantee the consumption of the salt substitute.

By June 2014, the exploratory phase was concluded, which worked with villages with 100 to 200 households. The participants of the exploratory study were six randomly selected villas, reaching a total of 2,400 participants.

The salt substitute will be introduced progressively every five months (on average) in each village. The emphasis will be on interaction with the family, but also with bakeries, soup kitchens, food vendors and restaurants.

The salt substitute will be delivered directly to the families. All participants will be offered to use the salt substitute in their meals, the delivery will be free of charge.

Salt consumption will be assessed during the implementation and follow-up of the intervention in each household.

Result:

The use of a salt substitute containing 25% KCl and 75% ClNa may be implementable at the population level to reduce blood pressure levels and the incidence of hypertension.

Contact:

Antonio Bernabé-Ortiz, MD, MPH, PhD
antonio.bernabe@upch.pe