Assessing nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards breast cancer prevention among female students at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer remains a complex disease and leading cause of cancer-related death in Nigerian women. Recently, the role of nutrition has been highlighted in the etiology of breast cancer. METHODS: The aim of this research was to evaluate the nutrition-related knowledge, attitude, and practices of female university students. We also investigated the correlation between their demographic characteristics and their knowledge and attitudes of the survey participants. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among female students at the Federal University of Oye (FUOYE), Nigeria. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires designed to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practices concerning cancer prevention. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20, and significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Out of the 402 students who received the questionnaire, 300 completed it. The average age of the participants was 21.26 years with a standard deviation of 2.68. There was generally limited knowledge regarding breast cancer risk factors, with 45% of participants citing family history as the most recognized risk factor. Overall, knowledge level was influenced by the participants' permanent place of residence and course of study. Attitudes towards the impact of maternal and paternal nutrition on breast cancer prevention were notably low. Additionally, less than half of the participants demonstrated good dietary practices. CONCLUSION: This study revealed low levels of nutrition-related knowledge concerning cancer prevention, accompanied by poor dietary habits among the participants. These results suggest a possible link between inadequate knowledge about breast cancer prevention and the observed poor dietary practices among the participants. The frequent consumption of unhealthy foods among the participants may be a pointer to higher risk of breast cancer in the future, emphasizing a need for health education targeted at this group.

Nivel de conocimiento sobre nutrición y su asociación con las prácticas alimentarias y la obesidad entre estudiantes universitarios

Introducción: La literatura sobre el impacto de la educación alimentaria y nutricional de estudiantes universitarios en las prácticas alimentarias es heterogénea. Estudios han informado de que la educación alimentaria y nutricional puede cambiar los hábitos alimentarios y las elecciones alimentarias mientras que otros no encontraron asociación. Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre el conocimiento nutricional, las prácticas alimentarias y la obesidad en estudiantes universitarios nicaragüenses. Métodos: Estudio de corte transversal analítico que utilizó una muestra de 914 estudiantes universitarios de la ciudad de León en Nicaragua. Se midió el índice de masa corporal a través del peso y la estatura y el nivel de conocimiento nutricional. Las prácticas alimentarias fueron medidas con cuestionarios validados con moderadas modificaciones en base al contexto del país. Los datos fueron analizados mediante ANOVA de una vía, chi-cuadrado, prueba t de Student y regresión lineal. Resultados: Se encontró un bajo nivel de conocimiento nutricional y alta prevalencia de exceso de peso. El conocimiento nutricional de los estudiantes universitarios está asociado positivamente con las prácticas alimentarias. Sin embargo, aunque se tenga un máximo de conocimiento no significa un puntaje máximo de diversidad alimentaria. Asimismo, se reportó que las mujeres tienen una diversidad alimentaria ligeramente mayor a los hombres, pero mayor es la diversidad en el grupo que realizan actividad física y aquellos que tienen bajo peso. Por su parte, el conocimiento nutricional está asociado negativamente con el sobrepeso y la obesidad. Conclusión: se comprueba la hipótesis del impacto positivo del conocimiento nutricional en las prácticas alimentarias y la obesidad.

Background: The literature on the impact of food and nutrition education of university students on eating practices is heterogeneous. Studies have revealed that food and nutrition education can change eating habits and choices while others found no association. Objective: Determine the relationship between nutrition knowledge, eating practices, and obesity in Nicaraguan university students. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study using a sample of 914 university students from the city of León in Nicaragua. The Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated considering both values of weight and height, and the level of nutrition knowledge and eating practices were measured with validated questionnaires with moderate modifications based on the country context. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Chi-Square, Student's T-test, and linear regression. Results: A low level of nutrition knowledge and a high prevalence of overweight were found. The nutrition knowledge of university students is positively associated with eating practices. However, even if there is a high degree of nutrition knowledge, it does not mean there is a high dietary diversity score (DDS). Similarly, it was revealed that women have slightly greater dietary diversity scores than men, but greater dietary diversity scores in the group that performs physical activity and those who are underweight. On the other hand, nutrition knowledge is negatively associated with overweight and obesity. Conclusion: the hypothesis of the positive impact of nutrition knowledge on eating practices and obesity is tested.

Nutrition Knowledge of Elderly Women: Effect of Two Food and Nutrition Education Programs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of two programs of Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) on the Nutrition knowledge of elderly women, Brazil. METHODS: Randomized field trial. Community-based elderly women over 60 years (n = 36) participated in a twelve-week intervention in either of two FNE programs: Psychopedagogical Program (PP) or Culinary Workshop Program (CWP). There were three moments of data collection in the study; pre-intervention knowledge data); post intervention and follow up (after 6 months upon intervention completion). A questionnaire about knowledge of food and Nutrition was administered at every data collection moment. RESULTS: In the analysis performed by the Generalized Estimation Equation Models (GEE) there was a significant interaction effect (P = 0.033) in the diabetes block in which the percentage of correct answers in the follow-up moment was higher compared to the pre-intervention moment in the CWP group (65.65% and 45.66%, respectively). In the knowledge blocks: total percentage of correct answers, hypertension, food processing, the evaluation effect was observed, regardless of the intervention performed.Three blocks of knowledge, including the block of the total percentage of correct answers in knowledge in Nutrition, presented a significant evaluation effect, which suggests that the interventions were important for the gain of knowledge, regardless of the type of intervention performed. Elderly-focused FNE programs should include a methodology that encompasses recreational education activities, and practical activities, such as culinary workshops.

Association Between Nutritional Knowledge, Dietary Regimen, and Excess Body Weight in Primary School Teachers.

Introduction: Peru is one of the developing countries with the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in Latin America and Caribbean region. Primary school teachers are identified as a high-risk group for overweight and obesity. However, studies conducted in this population group are limited. This study evaluated the association between nutritional knowledge, dietary regimen, and excess body weight in primary school teachers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 151 teachers from two state schools in the eastern region of Lima, Peru. The level of nutritional knowledge was assessed using a validated questionnaire. Dietary regimen was also determined. The body mass index (BMI) was determined through self-reported weight and height. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between possible risk factors with excess body weight among teachers. Results: Inadequate nutritional knowledge level (AOR = 5.21, 95% CI: 1.31-20.93), being male teachers (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.13-4.45), and being married (AOR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.17-5.30) were the significant predictors of excess body weight. In contrast, vegetarian teachers were less likely to have excess body weight (AOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.47-0.97). Conclusion: Future intervention programs should include improving nutritional knowledge with greater attention to male and married teachers to decrease the risk of excess body weight.

Workplace nutrition knowledge questionnaire: psychometric validation and application.

Workplace dietary intervention studies in low- and middle-income countries using psychometrically sound measures are scarce. This study aimed to validate a nutrition knowledge questionnaire (NQ) and its utility in evaluating the changes in knowledge among participants of a Nutrition Education Program (NEP) conducted at the workplace. A NQ was tested for construct validity, internal consistency and discriminant validity. It was applied in a NEP conducted at six workplaces, in order to evaluate the effect of an interactive or a lecture-based education programme on nutrition knowledge. Four knowledge domains comprising twenty-three items were extracted in the final version of the NQ. Internal consistency of each domain was significant, with Kuder-Richardson formula values>0·60. These four domains presented a good fit in the confirmatory factor analysis. In the discriminant validity test, both the Expert and Lay groups scored>0·52, but the Expert group scores were significantly higher than those of the Lay group in all domains. When the NQ was applied in the NEP, the overall questionnaire scores increased significantly because of the NEP intervention, in both groups (P<0·001). However, the increase in NQ scores was significantly higher in the interactive group than in the lecture group, in the overall score (P=0·008) and in the healthy eating domain (P=0·009). The validated NQ is a short and useful tool to assess gain in nutrition knowledge among participants of NEP at the workplace. According to the NQ, an interactive nutrition education had a higher impact on nutrition knowledge than a lecture programme.

Letramento nutricional: desempenho de dois grupos populacionais brasileiros / Nutrition literacy: performance of two Brazilian population groups

In this study, we aimed to compare the level of nutritional literacy of twodifferent population groups. It is a cross-sectional quantitative study withsecondary data analysis. We investigated 140 individuals, both maleand female, divided in two groups: 70 were customers of a mall (Group1) and 70 were patients of the National Health System - NHS (Group 2)in Fortaleza, Ceará state, Brazil. The level of nutritional literacy wasdetermined by the Nutritional Literacy Scale (NLS) questionnaire, whichwas translated into Portuguese. The two groups were compared usingChi-square test or Fisher exact test and Student?s t test, adopting p<0.05as significance level. Adequate performance was found in the NLS evaluation, which was different from the literature results. Group 2 showed worse performance (p<0.05) when compared with Group 1 for both male and female participants. The educational background of participants also influenced this performance. There were significant statistical differences according to most groups of questions considering the total female individuals. Male participants presented the best performance. The present study demonstrated that there are different performances considering various issues related to nutrition and the population groups evaluated. Further investigation should be carried out for the design of educational activities. It is suggested that the instruments of nutritional literacy assessment be validated for the Brazilian population.

Comparar el grado de letramento nutricional de dos grupos de población diferentes. Estudio transversal, de naturaleza cuantitativa, con análisis de datos secundarios. Participaron del mismo 140 individuos de ambos sexos, siendo 70 visitantes de un centro comercial (grupo 1) y 70 pacientes de la Seguridad Social - SS (grupo 2) de la ciudad de Fortaleza, Ceará. El grado de letramento nutricional se determinó mediante un cuestionario Escala de Letramento nutricional (NLS), traducido al portugués. Los grupos se compararon mediante el test de Chi-cuadrado o el test exacto de Fisher y el test t-Student, adoptándose una p<0,05 como nivel de significación. A diferencia de lo expuesto en la literatura, en el presente estudio el desempeño de los entrevistados en el NLS fue equivalente a un letramento nutricional adecuado, siendo, sin embargo, inferior entre los miembros del grupo 2 (p<0,05) para ambos sexos. La escolaridad también influenció el desempeño en el referido instrumento. Al analizar los bloques de preguntas que formaban parte del NLS, hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las respuestas conferidas, para la mayoría de las preguntas, por las mujeres pertenecientes al grupo 1, cuando fueron comparadas a las del grupo 2. Ya entre los hombres, al comparar las respuestas entre los dos grupos (1 y 2) la diferencia no resultó significativa. El presente estudio demostró que existen desempeños diferenciados teniendo en cuenta tanto los diversos temas ligados a lanutrición como el grupo poblacional evaluado, y que dicho aspecto debe ser investigado para el delineamiento de las acciones educativas. Sesugiere realizar la validación de instrumentos que midan el letramento nutricional para la población brasileña.

Comparar o grau de letramento nutricional de dois diferentes grupos populacionais. Estudo transversal, de natureza quantitativa, com análise de dados secundários. Participaram do mesmo 140 indivíduos de ambos os gêneros, sendo 70 frequentadores de um shopping center (grupo 1) e 70 pacientes do Sistema Único de Saúde ? SUS (grupo 2) da cidade de Fortaleza, Ceará. O grau de letramento nutricional foi determinado por meio do questionário Nutritional Literacy Scale (NLS), traduzido para o português. Os grupos foram comparados por meio dos testes Qui-quadrado ou Exato de Fisher e do teste t de Student, adotando-se p<0,05 como nível de significância. Diferentemente do exposto na literatura,no presente estudo, o desempenho dos entrevistados no NLS foi equivalente a um letramento nutricional adequado, sendo, no entanto,inferior entre os integrantes do grupo 2 (p<0,05), para ambos os gêneros. A escolaridade também influenciou o desempenho no referido instrumento.Ao se analisarem os blocos de questões que integravam o NLS, houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre as respostas conferidas,para a maioria das questões, pelas mulheres pertencentes ao grupo 1, quando comparadas às do grupo 2. Já entre os homens, a maioria dascomparações de respostas entre os dois grupos (1 e 2) não foi estatisticamente significativa. O presente estudo demonstrou que há desempenhos diferenciados, considerando-se diversos temas ligados à Nutrição e o grupo populacional avaliado; assim, tal aspecto deve ser investigado para o delineamento de ações educativas. Sugere-se arealização de validação de instrumentos de aferição de letramento nutricional para a população brasileira.