A large body of evidence has shown that excess salt intake is associated with hypertension and nutrition related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Global salt intake is high with populations consuming as much as twice the World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommended intake of 5g/day. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately affected due to the nutrition transition taking place in those countries that is associated with an influx of highly processed foods that are becoming more affordable, and accompanied by changing lifestyles and changing dietary preferences. This has increased the availability and intake of energy dense nutrient poor (EDNP) foods that are particularly high in salt in LMICs.
This thesis outlines six studies that sought to provide a systematic approach towards finding evidence, building advocacy and developing strategies to curb excess salt intake and rising hypertension in Ghana. Data used in studies that comprise the thesis were collected in