Nutrition knowledge and misconception about animal source food among Sri Lankans

Abstract

Purpose: Though essential for optimum nutrition and health, excessive consumption of animal source food items (ASF), particularly certain types is associated with health risks. Nutritional knowledge and misconceptions about ASF are among the factors that affect the type and level of consumption. This study investigates the nutrition knowledge and misconceptions about the ASF among different demographic segments of Sri Lanka. Research Method: The sample comprised of 361 randomly selected respondents. Each respondent was asked to indicate whether they agreed or disagreed on 20 knowledge-testing statements and to the extent they were certain about the each of the answers-in a four point Likert scale ranging from completely uncertain to completely certain. Findings: Nutritional knowledge score was as low as 34%. Gender and age had no significant effect on knowledge score. Tamils, Hindus, rural dwellers and respondents of lower education levels reported lower knowledge scores. Almost one in four believed that brown eggs are more nutritious than white. Around 16% respondents believed that even for a healthy adult an egg a day is unsafe. Older and rural respondents opined brown eggs were more nutritious while relatively younger urban segment was more concern about egg consumption level. As high as 19% of the respondents failed to recognize the nutritional superiority of fresh milk over powdered milk. Limitations: Though the sample comprised all main ethnic, religious and dwelling categories, it was drawn only from two administrative districts. Originality/Value: The study revealed that Sri Lankans still have low nutrition knowledge and hold a number of misconceptions about the ASF and, identifies the awareness programs particularly targeting rural and less educated social segments.