Research has shown that a higher level of nutrition knowledge is positively and significantly associated with better dietary quality. To better assess the nutrition education required to improve dietary intakes, it is necessary to ascertain the determinants of nutrition knowledge. A household-to-household bilingual community survey (N=500) was conducted in predominantly Latino neighborhoods in Hartford, CT to assess nutrition knowledge, attitudes, behavior and dietary quality among inner-city caretakers. Households with at least one child £12 years old were included. Respondents were 33.3±12.1 years old, 88% were female and 85% were Latino. Of those who identified themselves as Latino, 42% spoke only Spanish at home, 41.3% completed high school or obtained post high school training, and 22.5% did not go to high school at all. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that those who spoke Spanish (OR, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.17-0.66), had less education (0.38, 0.18-0.83), and had at least one child under the age of 5 (0.60, 0.36-0.98) were less likely to have a high level of nutrition knowledge. Of significant interest is the success of the °Salud! Campaign, which promoted a higher consumption of fruits and vegetable through mass media. Specifically, those who reported listening to a participating Latino radio station (1.75, 1.05-2.91) or reading a participating Latino magazine (1.99, 1.20-3.30) had higher levels of nutrition knowledge. This research may help to target nutrition education efforts in the Latino population and suggests that providing nutrition education through mass media is an effective way of increasing nutrition knowledge.
Learning Objectives: Identify the determinants of nutritional knowledge among Latino caretakers Discuss effective methods for providing nutritional education for the Latino population
Keywords: Latinos, Nutrition
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.