The Association Between Food and Nutrition Literacy, Vegetables, Fruits, and Foods at risk of Dental Caries Consumption Behavior among School-aged Children in Wang Chin Sub-District, Wang Chin District, Phrae Province

Abstract

Food and nutrition literacy is an important concept in the health promotion of school-age children. This study was a cross-sectional survey. It aimed to examine the association between food and nutrition literacy,vegetable, fruit, and foods at risk of dental caries consumption behaviors among school-aged childrenin Wang Chin Sub-District, Wang Chin District, Phrae Province. The sample consisted of 167 students from the school in Wang Chin Sub - District, Wang Chin District, Phrae Province. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using Chi-square. The results revealed that 65.9% of the participants had low levels of vegetable and 73.1% had low levels of fruit consumption behaviors, whereas 19.8% had high levels of consumption of foods at risk for dental caries. However, most of them (53.9%) had food and  nutrition literacy inadequate level. Factors that were statistically significantly associated with food and nutrition literacy
included: vegetable consumption behaviors (x² = 4.229, p-value = 0.040), fruit consumption behaviors (x² = 4.045, p-value = 0.044), and foods at risk of dental caries consumption behaviors (x² = 2.085, p-value = 0.024). Therefore, the promoting vegetable and fruit consumption behaviors while reducing the consumption of foods at risk of dental caries. This necessitates the development of food and nutrition literacy, along with fostering cooperation among families, schools and communities.