title: [Knowledge, perceptions, and behavior related to salt consumption, health, and nutritional labeling in Argentina, Costa Rica, and Ecuador].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the knowledge, perceptions, and behavior related to the consumption of salt and sodium in food and its relationship to health and the nutritional labeling of food in three countries of the Region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative-exploratory study based on semi-structured interviews, according to the categories of the Health Belief Model. Thirty-four interviews and six focus groups were conducted with community leaders (71 total respondents) in rural and urban areas of Argentina, Costa Rica, and Ecuador.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Salt consumption varies in the rural and urban areas of the three countries. Most interviewees felt that food could not be consumed unsalted and that only people who consume an excessive amount of salt would have health risks. They did not know that processed food contains salt and sodium. Although they did not measure the amount of aggregate salt in foods, the participants believed that they consumed little salt and did not perceive that their health was at risk. The majority of the participants did not review nutritional information, and those who did said that they did not understand it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is public awareness about salt, but not about the term "sodium." More salt and sodium are consumed than what is reported and there are no prospects of reducing that consumption. Although it is understood that excessive consumption of salt is a health risk, participants do not perceive that they are at risk. Replacing the word "sodium" with the word "salt" would facilitate food selection.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud, San José, Costa Rica. gmsanchez@inciensa.sa.cr
authors.forename: Germana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varea
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mogrovejo
authors.forename: María Lorena
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Goetschel
authors.forename: María de los Ángeles
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Montero-Campos
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mejía
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanco-Metzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina; D003364:Costa Rica; D004484:Ecuador; D005260:Female; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary