OBJECTIVETo explore the knowledge, attitude and behavior of salt reduction among Chinese adults aged over 18 years old in 2010.

METHODSA total of 96 916 adults aged over 18 were recruited from 162 surveillance points in 2010, applying multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method.Information about subjects salt reduction related knowledge, attitude and behavior were collected by face-to-face interview. After performing complex weighted analysis, the awareness, willingness and behavior rates were compared by different genders, age groups, urban, rural and different regions.

RESULTSThe unweighted salt reduction rate of the awareness, willingness and behavior among Chinese adults were 63.0%, 84.5% and 44.5%. After being weighted, the awareness rate was 62.9%, the awareness rate difference was not significant between males (62.4%) and females (63.4%) (χ(2) = 1.66, P > 0.05), but the urban areas (77.1%) were significantly higher than the rural areas (56.3%) (χ(2) = 85.11, P < 0.01) . The difference among different ages was significant (χ(2) = 228.68, P < 0.01) with descending order in 18-44, 45-59 and ≥ 60 years old (67.8%, 59.8%, 50.1%, respectively). The difference among different regions was not significant (χ(2) = 9.82, P < 0.01) in eastern, central and western China (68.2%, 61.3%, 57.1%, respectively). After being weighted, the willingness rate was 83.8%, the willingness rate in females (85.8%) was significantly higher than that in males (81.9%) (χ(2) = 61.92, P < 0.01) , and the urban areas (87.1%) were significantly higher than the rural areas (82.3%) (χ(2) = 15.49, P < 0.01) . The difference among different ages was significant (χ(2) = 74.50, P < 0.01) with descending order in 18-44, 45-59 and ≥ 60 years old (85.3%, 83.1%, 79.6%, respectively). The difference was not significant (χ(2) = 0.58, P > 0.05) among eastern, central and western China (84.3%, 84.0%, 82.9%, respectively). After being weighted, the behavior rate of salt reduction was 42.2%, the behavior rate in females (45.6%) was significantly higher than that in males (38.8%) (χ(2) = 107.74, P < 0.01), and urban areas (56.5%) were significantly higher than the rural areas (35.6%) (χ(2) = 74.38, P < 0.01) . The difference was not significant (χ(2) = 4.19, P > 0.05) among 18-44, 45-59 and ≥ 60 years old(41.5%, 43.6%, 42.2%, respectively). The behavior rate of salt reduction difference in eastern China(47.8%) was significantly higher than that in central (38.9%) and western (38.0%) (χ(2) = 7.22, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe rate of willingness to reduce salt is higher, but the awareness rate and the behavior rate of salt reduction are not high, especially among the population who are from rural area, or who are from central and western China.