Table 1.
Characteristics and Nutrition Literacy Among Adults (N = 177) in the Lower Mississippi Delta, 2006-2007
| Characteristics | No. (%) | Nutrition Literacy Score, a Mean (SD) | P Value b |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race | |||
| African American | 144 (81) | 3.12 (1.96) | .21 |
| White | 33 (19) | 3.61 (2.15) | |
| Sex | |||
| Female | 124 (70) | 3.27 (2.00) | .51 |
| Male | 53 (30) | 3.06 (2.02) | |
| Age, yc | |||
| 18-30 | 31 (18) | 3.16 (1.88) | .16 |
| 31-40 | 29 (16) | 3.62 (2.15) | |
| 41-50 | 42 (24) | 3.21 (1.95) | |
| 51-60 | 39 (22) | 3.46 (1.79) | |
| ≥61 | 33 (19) | 2.45 (2.22) | |
| Annual income, $ | |||
| <5,000 | 19 (11) | 1.84 (2.04) | <.001 |
| 5,000-14,999 | 52 (29) | 2.63 (2.08) | |
| 15,000-24,999 | 29 (16) | 2.93 (1.71) | |
| 25,000-34,999 | 24 (14) | 3.50 (1.69) | |
| 35,000-44,999 | 20 (11) | 3.70 (2.03) | |
| ≥45,000 | 16 (9) | 5.31 (0.87) | |
| Don't know/refused | 17 (10) | 4.00 (1.37) | |
| Highest level of education completed | |||
| Less than 9th grade | 28 (16) | 2.43 (1.69) | .008 |
| 9th to 12th grade, some high school | 41 (23) | 2.88 (1.99) | |
| High school diploma or GED | 37 (21) | 2.92 (2.18) | |
| Some college or specialized training, no degree | 36 (20) | 3.81 (1.85) | |
| Associate's or bachelor's degree | 22 (13) | 3.59 (1.97) | |
| Attended graduate school | 13 (7) | 4.46 (1.76) | |
| Body mass indexc,d, kg/m2 | |||
| Underweight (<18.5) | 0 | NA | .85 |
| Healthy weight (18.5-24.9) | 31 (18) | 3.16 (2.21) | |
| Overweight (25.0-29.9) | 55 (31) | 3.11 (1.97) | |
| Obese (≥30.0) | 90 (51) | 3.30 (1.97) | |
Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; GED, general equivalency diploma; NA, not applicable.
a
Assessed using the Newest Vital Sign (13) with scores ranging from 0 to 6: 0 or 1 correct answers, high likelihood of limited literacy; 2-3 correct answers, possibility of limited literacy; 4-6, adequate literacy skills.
b
One-way analysis of variance for difference in nutrition literacy score among demographic variables.
c
The sample size does not equal 177 because of missing responses.
d
Calculated by using self-reported height and weight.