Determination of nutrition literacy level and affecting factors in Elaziğ province center

DETERMINATION OF NUTRITION LITERACY LEVEL AND AFFECTING FACTORS IN ELAZIĞ PROVINCE CENTER In this study, it was aimed to determine the nutrition literacy (BOY) level and the influencing factors in adults in Elazig city center. It is a cross-sectional/descriptive type, and the population of the study consists of male and female population between the ages of 20-64, registered in the family health centers of Elazig province center. In order to reach the minimum sample size by selecting %50 the expected frequency, and 95% confidence interval, and 4% error rate, and the sample was calculated 599 in Epi Info program. The data of the study was collected under observation between October and December 2018 with the data collection tool including descriptive characteristics and adult nutrition literacy assessment tool questionnaire. The data were evaluated by means, percentages, chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. The average age of the participant people was 35.48±11.8 years, 53.3% of them were men and 52.9% had adequate nutritional literacy level. Nutritional literacy subscales of individuals; 53.4% general nutrition knowledge, 23.9% reading comprehension and interpretation, 22.7% food groups, 93.8% portion amounts and 87.5% food label reading and basic mathematics levels were found to be inadequate. In the logistic regression model, in which the relationship between nutrition literacy and some factors affecting it, was examined, higher education level, increased income level, and good general health perception were found to affect nutrition literacy level positively. As a result, more than half of the people who are included in the research in the city center of Elazig are found to have adequate nutritional literacy, and nutrition literacy was not affected by factors such as age, gender, marital status, having a child status, dietician admission status, and disease status. Since there are not enough studies in the world and in our country, more studies are needed to evaluate nutrition literacy and factors affecting it. Key words: Adult, nutrition literacy, the affecting factors