Prevalence of nutritional literacy and associated factors among adult residents: a cross-sectional study from marginalized Community in Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Introduction: Nutritional literacy is one of the most important and under-explored aspects of good nutritional status especially in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: Despite its vital role in health, nutrition literacy research, particularly in low- and middle-income countries remains limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of nutritional literacy in marginalized settlements of Islamabad and determine the socio-demographic factors that influence nutritional literacy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 265 adults belonging to a marginalized community of Islamabad, Pakistan. Socio-demographic data of the participants was obtained and information on nutrition literacy and health outcomes was collected using two validated tools. Data was analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics, with significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of poor nutritional literacy was 89.1% in our study sample. Significant associations were found between three socio-demographic variables and nutritional literacy; gender (p = 0.029*), age (p = 0.019*), and education (p < 0.001*). Males and older adults were more likely to be nutritionally illiterate, while illiterate participants depicted higher odds of poor nutritional literacy. Anthropometric, vital signs, and diagnosed health conditions showed no significant associations with nutritional literacy, except skin color (p = 0.030), whereas cyanosis was linked to lower odds (OR = 0.203, p = 0.015). Conclusion: The current study reported that poor nutritional literacy is highly prevalent in marginalized communities of Islamabad and age, gender, and education, act as significant determinants. Increasing nutrition education and awareness among socially disadvantaged population groups can help promote healthier dietary practices and overall well-being.