Factors Impacting the Uptake of Research into Dietary Sodium Reduction Policies in Five Latin American Countries: A Qualitative Study

Janice Padilla-Moseley; Bridve Sivakumar; Nadia Flexner; Ruben Grajeda; Brenda Gamble; Adriana Blanco-Metzler; JoAnne Arcand

doi:10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100073

Factors Impacting the Uptake of Research into Dietary Sodium Reduction Policies in Five Latin American Countries: A Qualitative Study

Curr Dev Nutr. 2023 Apr 1;7(5):100073. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100073. eCollection 2023 May.

Authors

Janice Padilla-Moseley¹, Bridve Sivakumar¹, Nadia Flexner^{2

3}, Ruben Grajeda³, Brenda Gamble¹, Adriana Blanco-Metzler⁴, JoAnne Arcand¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa ON, Canada.
² Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Department of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of America.
⁴ Costa Rican Institute of Research and Teaching in Nutrition and Health, Tres Ríos, Costa Rica Costa Rica.

Abstract

Background: Diets high in sodium are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Latin American countries (LAC) consume more than double the recommended sodium levels. Research uptake in dietary sodium reduction policies has been inconsistent in LAC, and the factors impacting research uptake are largely unknown. This study aimed to describe the barriers and facilitators to the uptake of research into sodium reduction policies from a funded research consortium with 5 LAC (Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Peru).

Methods: A qualitative case study included 5 researchers and 4 Ministry of Health officers from the funded consortium. Dimensions from Trostle's framework of actors, content, context, and process and relative advantages from the Diffusion of Innovation informed the semi-structured interview guide and analysis. One-on-one interviews were completed from November 2019 to January 2020. The participants validated transcripts, coded, and analyzed using NVivo software.

Results: Key barriers to policy advancements included 1) conflicts of interest from the food industry and some government actors; 2) government turnover resulting in policy and personnel changes; 3) a lack of human and financial resources; and 4) and communication gaps among key actors. Key facilitators to policy advancement included: 1) the content and quality of health economic, food supply, and qualitative data; 2) support, technical assistance, and alliances with the government, non-governmental organizations, and international experts; and 3) researchers enhanced skillsets facilitated with communication and dissemination with policymakers.

Conclusion: Researchers and policymakers are faced with several barriers and facilitators on research uptake in policies and programs in LAC; these factors should be addressed and leveraged to advance sodium reduction policy development. Future LAC studies can draw from the insights and lessons learned from this case study and apply the results to future efforts on policy nutrition to promote healthy eating and reduce CVD risk.

Keywords: diet; global science countries; health promotion; nutrition; public health policy; research implementation; sodium.