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NUTRITION LITERACY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AMONG RURAL FARMING FAMILIES IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA
Author(s):Ekanem, J.T. and Uloh, C.O.
Volume/Issue: Volume 6 , Issue 1(2026)
ABSTRACT:
The study examined the nutrition literacy and its influence on healthy food choices among rural farmingfamilies in South-South Nigeria. Specifically, it determined the level of nutrition literacy, identified the typesand frequency of healthy food choices and examined the relationship between nutrition literacy and healthyfood choices. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 360 household heads across 12 ruralcommunities in Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Rivers States. Data were collected using a structured questionnaireincorporating the validated Nutrition Literacy Instrument (NLit) and a food frequency questionnaire tocompute the Healthy Food Choice Index (HFCI). Descriptive statistics showed that nutrition literacy wasgenerally moderate (mean NLit = 24.6 ± 5.8), with 28.3% of households exhibiting low literacy, 49.4%moderate, and 22.3% high literacy. Consumption of healthy foods was uneven: whole grains/tubers weremost frequently consumed (4.1 ± 1.6 servings/week), while dairy and legumes were least consumed. HFCIscores indicated moderate adherence to healthy diets (mean HFCI = 10.2 ± 3.2). Correlation analysisrevealed a positive moderate relationship between nutrition literacy and healthy food choices (r = 0.48, p <0.001), and multiple linear regression identified nutrition literacy (β = 0.42, p < 0.001) and education level (β= 0.15, p < 0.001) as significant predictors of dietary quality. The study concludes that nutrition literacycritically shapes food choices among rural farming families. It recommends community-based nutritioneducation programs, practical skill-building in food label interpretation and portion control, promotion ofdietary diversity, integration of nutrition literacy into agricultural extension services, targeted support forlow-literacy households, and policy measures to improve access to nutrient-rich foods to enhance dietaryquality and health outcomes.
KEYWORDS:
Nutrition literacy, Healthy food choices, Rural farming households, Dietary behaviour, SouthSouth Nigeria
