Development of Food Literacy Assessment Tool Targeting Adults With Low Income

Influence of HIV/AIDS knowledge on HIV testing behavior among young students (14-27 years) with a history of sexual activity: chain mediation analysis of social discrimination, self-efficacy, and sexual behavior characteristics

This study used a self-administered questionnaire to investigate the relationship between HIV/AIDS knowledge, social discrimination, HIV self-efficacy, sexual behavioral characteristics and HIV testing behavior among young students with a history of sexual activity in Chongqing. Propensity score matching was used to construct a control group with similar demographic characteristics to the HIV testing group, only without HIV testing behaviors. Structural equation modeling was used to conduct chain-mediated effect analysis. The HIV testing rate among young students with a history of sexual behavior was 17.16%. Young students with HIV testing behavior had higher levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge, lower social discrimination, better self-efficacy, and no difference in sexual behavior characteristic scores between the two groups (P = 0.062). The mediated effect values of social discrimination and self-efficacy were 0.022 and 0.063, respectively, while their chain mediated effect value was 0.007. There was no mediated effect of sexual behavior characteristics. The level of young students' HIV/AIDS knowledge does not directly influence their HIV testing behavior but plays a complete chain mediating effect on HIV testing behavior through social discrimination and self-efficacy. HIV testing behavior should be promoted through the perspectives of enhancing HIV/AIDS knowledge level, reducing social discrimination, and improving self-efficacy.

Participant Perspectives on the Impact of a School-Based, Experiential Food Education Program Across Childhood, Adolescence, and Young Adulthood

OBJECTIVE

Explore participant perceptions of involvement in an experiential food education program during elementary school and the scope and extent of program influence on food decisions.

DESIGN

Focus groups with current participants and program alumni.

SETTING

Washington, DC.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-nine elementary school students and 39 program alumni ranging from middle school through university students.

PHENOMENON OF INTEREST

Participant perceptions of program impact from childhood into adolescence and young adulthood.

ANALYSIS

Inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Nine emergent themes were identified, spread over 3 categories of program impact: immediate, beyond the classroom, and sustained. Immediate program impact themes came from all participants and included enjoyment, hands-on learning, and fostering connection. Beyond the classroom, older elementary students and alumni expressed perceived shifts in individual and family food intake, involvement in household food practices, and desire for fresh food options at school. Themes of sustained program impact among alumni participants were an appreciation for fresh food, openness to trying new foods, and confidence to make informed food decisions.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Findings provide a deeper understanding of participant perspectives on the impact of participation in a school-based experiential food education program and a basis for further research on the role of early exposure to food education in influencing food decisions as children grow older.

Consumer susceptibility to front-of-package (FOP) food labeling: Scale development and validation

Current research in food science has explored the influence of front-of-package (FOP) labeling systems on consumer decision-making, yielding mixed results. We suggest that these inconsistent findings regarding FOP labeling effectiveness stem from a failure to consider a pivotal individual-level variable: consumer susceptibility to FOP labeling (CSFL). In the present research, we define this focal construct and develop and psychometrically validate a seven-item instrument that captures the construct across six studies (N = 1134). The current research may assist in segmenting consumers based on their susceptibility to FOP labeling, thereby facilitating the creation of targeted interventions tailored to this individual difference. Notably, the CSFL scale is positively correlated with consumers' willingness to purchase food items with genuine, third-party FOP labels, but not products lacking labels or products with fictitious FOP labels. This supports the predictive validity of the scale in determining important consumption-related outcomes.

Translation, Adaptation, and Validity of the Short Food Literacy Questionnaire for Brazil

Food literacy refers to the knowledge and skills related to healthy food choices. The aim of this study is to present the process of the cross-cultural adaptation and content validation of the Short Food Literacy Questionnaire (SFLQ) for the Brazilian population. The process of adaptation and validation of the SFLQ was conducted in four steps: (1) conceptual and item equivalence; (2) translation with semantic equivalence; (3) operational equivalence; (4) measurement equivalence. The study involved ten judges (food and nutrition experts) and 20 subjects (general population) in evaluating the semantic equivalence of the SFLQ. The semantic equivalence was assessed by calculating the content validity coefficient (CVC). All the items had a CVC greater than 0.80 considering all the evaluated parameters. The SFLQ has been adapted for the Brazilian context and guidelines. The adapted version of the questionnaire was referred to as the SFLQ-Br. The operational equivalence was conducted with 120 subjects using an online approach. The measurement equivalence was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, a reliability assessment, and an instrument stability assessment. A single factor was extracted, and all the items had a factor loading of >0.40 and appropriate goodness-of-fit values. All the equivalence results show that the SFLQ-Br can be used in the Brazilian population as a reliable, consistent, and stable instrument to measure food literacy.

Study on HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and preventive services among young students in Chongqing, China

Objectives

This study aimed to describe the HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviors of young students (14-25 years) in Chongqing, China, and to examine their use of preventive services and related factors.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted with students from 67 schools from December 2019 to June 2021. The chi-square test, non-parametric test to assess the differences between respondents with different characteristics in the above aspects. Additionally, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with the awareness of HIV/AIDS knowledge. Confidence intervals without crossover or P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 31,782 participants were included in the study. A total of 62.62% of the respondents were considered to be aware of basic HIV/AIDS knowledge, including 78.44%, 62.15%, and 52.08% in undergraduate colleges, junior colleges and secondary vocational schools, respectively. In total, 60.96% of males and 29.42% of females accepted premarital sex, 15.49% of males and 6.18% of females reported being sexually experienced, and only 57.18% of the students used condoms every time they had sex. The percentage of condom use among students who were aware of HIV/AIDS knowledge was higher than that among students who were not aware. A total of 85.60% of the students thought they needed HIV/AIDS prevention and control knowledge, and 94.60% thought more health education activities on HIV/AIDS prevention needed to be conducted in schools. Entrance education, lectures or consultation hotlines, WeChat official accounts and other media platforms were rated as the most acceptable HIV/AIDS prevention education methods.

Conclusion

These respondents lacked knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and an increasing number of students show an open attitude toward premarital sex and engage in risky sexual behaviors. It is urgent to enhance and widely disseminate comprehensive HIV/AIDS and sexual health education in multiple formats.

Nutrition and Food Literacy in the MENA Region: A Review to Inform Nutrition Research and Policy Makers

BACKGROUND

Improving food and nutrition literacy is fundamental to tackling the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's enormous challenges, including malnutrition and food insecurity. To direct initiatives, it is crucial to assess the region's food and nutrition literacy. Thus, we aimed to review studies on food/nutrition literacy status in the MENA countries and illuminate the region's research gaps in these areas, in terms of assessment, policy, and program implementation.

METHODS

PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched between 18 December and 8 May 2022, to identify relevant articles published up to 2022 in the MENA region.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included in this review. Lebanon, Palestine, and Iran are the only three MENA countries where nutrition and/or food literacy were assessed. People in these countries mostly had inadequate food and/or nutrition literacy levels, especially in the skills rather than the cognitive domain. Food and/or nutrition literacy showed associations with food habits, food-label use, food-consumption patterns, school performance, food security, dietary diversity, and nutrient adequacy. The MENA countries developed no policies or programs to address food and nutrition literacy.

CONCLUSION

This review is a wake-up call for researchers and policymakers to develop a robust approach to combat food and nutrition literacy concerns in the MENA region.

The Validation and Improvement of a Food Literacy Behavior Checklist for Food Literacy Programs

Food literacy is a multidimensional construct required to achieve diet quality. The Food Sensations^® for Adults (FSA) program aims to improve the food literacy of low to middle-income adults living in Western Australia and is funded by the Western Australian Department of Health. The original published behavior checklist used to measure change in food literacy has been revised based on experience of the facilitators and the iterative development of the program. This research sought to assess the validity and reliability of the improved food literacy behavior checklist. A total of 1,359 participants completed the checklist over an 18-month period. Content, face, and construct validity were considered in the re-development of the checklist. An exploratory factor analysis of the checklist identified three factors: (1) Plan and Manage, (2) Selection, and (3) Preparation. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.883, 0.760, and 0.868 were found for each of the three factors respectively. These coefficients indicated good internal consistency and were higher than those found in the original checklist analysis. An external validation was undertaken with the original food literacy behavior checklist, and a strong positive relationship between the two tools was found. In addition to being used to evaluate FSA, this revised and extensively validated tool could provide guidance to others evaluating similar food literacy programs and contribute to international measurement research.

Food Myths or Food Facts? Study about Perceptions and Knowledge in a Portuguese Sample

Food myths are nutritional concepts poorly justified or even contradict existing scientific evidence that individuals take as the truth. Knowledge in nutrition is an important tool in tackling misinformation and in the promotion of adequate food choices. This study aimed to investigate the beliefs and perceptions of a sample of the Portuguese population regarding a series of food myths and facts, evaluating, consequently, the level of knowledge and the main sources of information. The research was conducted on a sample of 503 participants, using a questionnaire disclosed online, by email, and social networks, between May and June of 2021. Thirty statements, some true and others false, were analyzed to assess people's perceptions. Based on the respondents' answers, a score was calculated for each statement, allowing to differentiate the correct (positive score) from incorrect (negative score) perceptions. The results showed that most statements obtained positive scores, corresponding to correct perceptions. Moreover, the level of knowledge was measured, being very high for 21.7% of the participants and high for 42.1%. The main sources where the participants acquire nutritional information are scientific journals (43.3%), website of the Portuguese General Health Office (DGS) (31.4%), and technical books (31.0%), which is concordant with the level of trust in these sources. Hence, it was concluded that, despite the levels of nutritional knowledge, there are still several food myths that need to be debunked, through the proper channels, in order to promote healthy, balanced, and adequate eating behaviors.