Regression Analysis to Identify Factors Associated with Urinary Iodine Concentration at the Sub-National Level in India, Ghana, and Senegal

Consumption of Discretionary Salt and Salt from Bouillon among Households, Women, and Young Children in Northern Region, Ghana: A Mixed-Methods Study with the Condiment Micronutrient Innovation Trial (CoMIT) Project

Background

Information on salt consumption patterns is needed to inform the need for and design of salt reduction strategies.

Objectives

In northern Ghana, this study aimed to estimate household consumption of salt, including salt from bouillon, and compare (estimated) women and children's salt intake to global recommendations; to estimate the proportion of salt consumed from bouillon; and to identify factors, including knowledge, attitudes, and practices, associated with household salt consumption.

Methods

Employing mixed-methods methodology, we conducted a pilot survey (n = 369 households enrolled) and focus group discussions (FGDs; n = 20) in Tolon and Kumbungu districts (14 urban, 14 rural clusters) (clinicaltrials.gov registry: NCT04632771). Households reported purchases of discretionary salt (DS, "table salt") and bouillon cubes. DS and total salt (TS; DS+salt from bouillon) consumption for women (15-49 y) and children (2-5 y) were estimated using the Adult Male Equivalent method and compared with global recommendations (<5 g/d women; <3.75 g/d children). Women's salt intake was also predicted from urinary sodium excretion (INTERSALT equation). Associations between DS and TS consumption, as well as household and women's characteristics, were tested with minimally adjusted and multivariable linear mixed-effects models. Qualitative FGD themes were generated using the Framework Method.

Results

From household purchase data, estimated TS consumption exceeded global recommendations for 44% of children [median: 2.9 (IQR: 1.9, 5.2) g/d] and 60% of women [6.0 (4.0, 10.2) g/d]; 35% of children and 50% of women exceeded recommendations from DS alone. Bouillon contributed <25% of households' TS consumption. Few characteristics were associated with DS or TS consumption. Salient qualitative themes that shaped salt consumption behaviors included salt's ubiquity as a seasoning, key household members' influence on food procurement and preparation, and perceptions about health.

Conclusions

Purchase data suggest salt consumption among women and children exceeds recommendations, even when excluding salt from bouillon; food prepared outside the home likely further contributes. Salt reduction interventions may be warranted in this context.

Analyzing the relationship between managers' working pressure and creative behavior from the social network perspective

BACKGROUND

With the social environment requirements for innovation and creativity, requirements for enterprises' innovation and creativity are also higher. However, research on the working pressure and innovation behavior of enterprise managers is rare.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between the working pressure of managers and creative organizational behavior, provide a reference for the development of corporate innovation activities, thereby improving corporate organizational creativity.

METHODS

Managers in enterprises under social networks' background are selected as research objects to study the relationship between their working pressure and creative organizational behavior. First, the theory of pressure cognition activation is elaborated. The challenge pressure, hindrance pressure, and organizational creativity are selected as the basis, and the reliability and validity of the corresponding scale tools are analyzed and tested. Second, based on the relationship among challenging working pressure, hindrance working pressure, and organizational, creative behavior activities, two hypotheses are proposed, which are expressed as Hypothesis 1 and Hypothesis 2, respectively. Finally, according to the managerial working pressure in organizational, creative behavioral activities, two kinds of hypotheses are proposed, which are represented by Hypothesis 3 and Hypothesis 4, respectively.

RESULTS

The results show: The selected scale tools have good reliability and validity. The Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficients corresponding to challenge pressure, hindrance pressure, and organizational, creative behavior activities are all above 0.85. The challenge pressure has a significantly positive impact on organizational creativity (P < 0.01), while the hindrance pressure has a significantly negative impact on organizational creativity (P < 0.01); therefore, Hypothesis 1 and Hypothesis 2 are verified. The organizational support for creative behavior activities has a dual adjustment impact. In addition to negatively regulating the positive path of managers' working pressure on work engagement, organizational support also positively regulates the positive path of managers' work engagement on organizational creativity. Therefore, Hypothesis 3 and Hypothesis 4 are verified.

CONCLUSIONS

The above results provide a theoretical reference for a profound understanding of the relationship between working pressure and creative behavior and the improvement of the creative ability of enterprises.