Application of Planned Behaviour Theory to Predict Salt Consumption in the Rural Women of Chabahar

Aim: There is conclusive scientific evidence of the adverse effect of excessive salt consumption on health, particularly on blood pressure, leading to cardiovascular disease (CVD), gastric cancer, osteoporosis, cataracts, kidney stones, diabetes and obesity. We investigated the determinants of salt consumption among the rural women in Chabahar (Iran) by applying the theory of planned behavior. Methods: Rural native Chabahari women (n =230), aged 12-75 years old, were selected by multistage sampling via native assistants. Data were gathered through a questionnaire with acceptable validity and reliability consisting of TBP constructs (intention, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control), as well as demographic characteristics. Bivariate correlations and stepwise regression analyses of TBP model were performed with the SPSS software. Findings: The results showed a significant direct asociation between attitude, subjective norms, percieved behavioral control and intention, and salt consuming behavior, also between attitude (sig. < 0.001), subjective norms (sig. < 0.01), perceived behavioral control (sig. < 0.01), the intention to reduce salt consumption. Subjective norms, attitude and intention together predicted 10.9% of salt consuming behavior. Attitude and perceived behavioral control together predicted approximately 9% of the intention to reduce salt consumption. Conclusion: This study indicated that the theory of planned behavior can be used to predict the salt consuming behavior and the intention of Chabahari rural women. Focus on the family- and community-based educational programs to change attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control is necessary to make women reduce salt consumption.