Process Evaluation Informs Future Salt Reduction Strategies in the Pacific Islands

Fiji specific results from the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) project on “Cost-effectiveness of salt reduction strategies in the Pacific Islands” led by The George Institute for Global Health in collaboration with C-POND, Fiji, have been published in Nutrients.

Webster et al conducted a process evaluation and costing of the multi-faceted population salt reduction intervention conducted in Fiji between 2012-2016.

The intervention focused on: the food industry, with encouragement to reduce salt; strategic health communication, through health educator training; and a hospital program, educating staff to reduce salt in patients meals.

While limitations were discussed such as management and government changes and a lack of monitoring of the food industry, the overall reach was high (73% of people surveyed had heard about the campaign). Additionally policies from the project have been incorporated into government programs.

Authors concluded that this study has provided important lessons for future work in Fiji, the Pacific Islands and globally.

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