Researchers in Ghana wanted to understand why people consume too much alcohol and salt, which can lead to heart disease and cancer. Instead of just blaming individuals, they talked to 21 experts including government officials, doctors, and researchers to map out all the reasons people make these choices. They discovered that the problem isn’t just about personal decisions—it’s also about culture, easy access to unhealthy products, and weak rules from the government. The study shows that fixing these habits requires changes at many levels, from family attitudes to government policies, not just telling people to eat better.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What makes people in Ghana drink too much alcohol and eat too much salt, and how different levels of society (personal, family, community, business, and government) influence these habits
  • Who participated: 21 experts from Ghana including government workers, university researchers, and health professionals who understand the problem from different angles
  • Key finding: Excessive alcohol and salt consumption isn’t just about personal choice—it’s driven by cultural traditions, easy access to unhealthy products, and weak government rules that don’t control how much salt and alcohol companies can sell
  • What it means for you: If you live in Ghana or a similar country, understanding that these habits are influenced by your surroundings means that change requires more than willpower alone. It suggests that government policies and community support are just as important as personal decisions for improving health

The Research Details

This was a qualitative study, which means researchers focused on understanding reasons and experiences rather than counting numbers. The team conducted one-on-one interviews with 21 carefully selected experts from government agencies and universities in Ghana. They asked open-ended questions to understand different perspectives on why people drink too much alcohol and eat too much salt.

The researchers then read through all the interview notes and organized the information into themes—basically grouping similar ideas together. They used a framework called the socio-ecological model, which is like looking at a problem through five different lenses: personal beliefs, relationships with family and friends, community and culture, organizations and businesses, and government policies.

This approach allowed them to see how all these different levels work together to influence people’s choices about alcohol and salt consumption.

This research method is important because it goes beyond just asking ‘Do people eat too much salt?’ Instead, it asks ‘Why do people eat too much salt?’ By talking to experts who work in government, health, and research, the study captures a complete picture of the problem. This helps policymakers understand that they can’t solve the problem by just telling people to eat better—they need to change the systems that make unhealthy choices easy.

This study has some strengths and limitations to keep in mind. The strength is that it includes diverse expert perspectives from different fields, which gives a comprehensive view. However, the study only included 21 people, all from Ghana, so the findings may not apply to other countries. Also, because this is a qualitative study based on interviews rather than experiments, the results show patterns and possibilities rather than definitive proof. The study is published in BMJ Open, a reputable medical journal, which adds credibility.

What the Results Show

The researchers found that people in Ghana consume too much alcohol and salt for reasons that operate at five different levels. At the personal level, many people simply don’t think the health risks are serious enough to change their behavior. At the family and friend level, social gatherings often center around alcohol, making it a normal part of celebrations and socializing.

At the community level, unhealthy foods and drinks are easy to find and buy, and traditional dishes often contain a lot of salt. Cultural traditions also encourage alcohol use during important social events. At the business level, companies that make alcohol and salty foods aren’t adequately regulated, so they can sell as much as they want without restrictions.

At the government and policy level, there aren’t strong enough rules to control how much salt companies can put in food or how alcohol is marketed. The researchers found that all these levels work together—weak government rules allow companies to sell unhealthy products, which makes them easy to access in communities, which reinforces cultural norms, which makes individuals feel like their choices are normal.

The study revealed that the problem is interconnected across all levels. For example, when government doesn’t regulate salt in processed foods, it becomes harder for individuals to avoid salt even if they want to. Similarly, when alcohol is heavily promoted at cultural events and is easy to buy, individuals face strong social pressure to drink. The research also showed that people often don’t realize how much salt and alcohol they’re consuming because these substances are hidden in everyday foods and drinks.

This study builds on existing research showing that health behaviors aren’t just about personal willpower. Previous studies have shown that obesity, smoking, and other health problems are influenced by environment and policy, not just individual choice. This Ghana study applies that same understanding to alcohol and salt consumption in a specific African context, showing that the principle applies globally. It supports the growing consensus among public health experts that fixing health problems requires changes at multiple levels simultaneously.

This study has several important limitations. First, it only included 21 experts, which is a small number, so the findings may not capture all perspectives. Second, all participants were from Ghana, so these findings may not apply to other countries with different cultures and policies. Third, the study relied on what experts think causes the problem, not on direct observation of why people actually make their choices. Finally, because this is a qualitative study, it shows patterns and possibilities rather than proving cause-and-effect relationships. The researchers didn’t measure actual changes in behavior or health outcomes.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, public health experts should focus on multiple strategies at once: (1) educate people about health risks (moderate confidence), (2) make healthier options more available and affordable (moderate-to-high confidence), (3) change cultural norms around alcohol at social events (moderate confidence), and (4) strengthen government regulations on salt in processed foods and alcohol marketing (high confidence). The strongest evidence suggests that government policy changes are essential because individual willpower alone cannot overcome easy access to unhealthy products.

This research is most relevant to people living in Ghana and similar countries in Africa where these consumption patterns are common. It’s especially important for government officials, public health workers, and policymakers who can implement changes. It’s also relevant to anyone interested in understanding why health problems persist despite health education campaigns. However, people in countries with stricter food and alcohol regulations may see different patterns.

Changes from this type of research typically take time. If governments implement stronger regulations on salt and alcohol, people might start seeing health improvements within 5-10 years as consumption patterns gradually shift. Individual behavior changes might happen faster (within months to a year) if people receive education and support, but lasting change across a whole population usually requires several years of consistent effort at multiple levels.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily salt and alcohol intake by logging meals and drinks consumed. Users can set daily limits (recommended: less than 5 grams of salt per day, and moderate alcohol consumption) and monitor how close they come to these limits. The app could show weekly trends to help users see patterns.
  • Use the app to identify which social situations or meals contribute most to excess salt and alcohol consumption. For example, if the app shows that most salt comes from processed snacks or most alcohol from weekend social events, users can plan specific alternatives for those situations. The app could suggest healthier swaps or help users plan non-alcoholic social activities.
  • Set up monthly check-ins where users review their consumption trends and note any changes in how they feel (energy levels, blood pressure if they monitor it, etc.). The app could send reminders about health goals and celebrate progress. Users could also track related health metrics like blood pressure or weight to see if reducing salt and alcohol intake improves these measures over time.

This research describes factors that influence alcohol and salt consumption in Ghana based on expert interviews. It does not provide medical advice or treatment recommendations. If you have concerns about your alcohol consumption or salt intake, please consult with a healthcare provider. This study shows associations and patterns but does not prove that changing one factor will definitely improve health. Individual health outcomes depend on many factors beyond alcohol and salt consumption. Always speak with a doctor before making significant changes to your diet or alcohol use, especially if you have existing health conditions.