Knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding dietary salt intake among medical students in Angola.
BACKGROUND
Levels of salt consumption and its awareness among medical students in Angola remain insufficiently studied. This study determined salt intake and assessed medical students' knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding salt consumption.


METHODS
Were collected 24-hour urine samples from a random sample of 123 undergraduate medical students aged 17-43 years who were studying at the University of Agostinho Neto in Luanda. Their knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding dietary salt were surveyed. Socio-demographic, clinical and anthropometric data were collected.


RESULTS
Average salt intake was 14.2 ± 5.1 g/day, without significant difference between genders (p = 0.221). In total, 96.7% consumed over 5 g/day, but only 6.5% of participants were aware of their excessive salt intake. The majority knew about salt-related health consequences and 45.5% reported they controlled their salt intake.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicated a high salt intake and inadequate behaviour regarding dietary salt consumption among medical students studying at the University of Agostinho Neto. This highlights the need for nutritional education to improve their dietary habits and future role in counselling.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola.
Pedro
P
Magalhães
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola.
Edgar J R
EJ
Sanhangala
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola.
Isildro M
IM
Dombele
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola.
Henrique S N
HS
Ulundo
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola.
Daniel P
DP
Capingana
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola.
Amílcar B T
AB
Silva
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000810:Angola; D004501:Education, Medical; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000652:urine; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium