Orange Fanta versus orange fruit: A novel measure of nutrition knowledge in Malawi.

ABSTRACT: This paper introduces a novel survey instrument to identify distinct components of nutrition knowledge and test for links between knowledge and dietary choices in Southern Malawi. Our first aim is to distinguish respondents' familiarity with recommended behaviours, such as when to start breastfeeding or introduce solid foods, from respondents' factual knowledge about mechanisms, such as whether biscuits or papaya and orange fruit or orange Fanta contribute more to future health. We find knowledge of nutrition behaviours to be strongly associated with more schooling, older age, and being female, whereas knowledge of mechanisms is associated only with training and employment as a health professional. We then test whether this expanded definition of nutrition knowledge is associated with diet

SUBMITTER: Schneider K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7199062 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature