Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40611004›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Association between nutrition literacy and diet quality among adolescents and young adults in the rural district of Mayuge, Eastern Uganda.

Thomas Buyinza, Edward Buzigi, Justine Bukenya, Mary Mbuliro, Julius Kiwanuka, Rawlance Ndejjo, David Guwatudde

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Thomas BuyinzaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. thomasbuyinza@gmail.com.
Edward BuzigiDepartment of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Justine BukenyaDepartment of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Mary MbuliroDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Julius KiwanukaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Rawlance NdejjoDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
David GuwatuddeDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Funding

This study is part of the ARISE-NUTRINT initiative, funded by the European Union. Project: 101095616
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdolescent malnutrition, including stunting, underweight, and micronutrient deficiency, is a major public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). While studies from the global north and Asia have shown that nutrition literacy supports healthier diets, evidence on literacy status and its role in influencing overall diet quality among adolescents and young adults (AYA) in SSA is limited. This study assessed nutrition literacy and its association with diet quality among AYA in rural Uganda.

methodsThis cross-sectional study was implemented as part of the ARISE-NUTRINT project. Based on Nutbeam's model of health literacy, the study was conducted among 1206 AYA aged 10-24 years in Mayuge district, Eastern Uganda, selected through stratified random sampling. Using a structured questionnaire, the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) was adapted to estimate diet quality, and the Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Scale was used to assess nutrition literacy status. Logistic regression models were employed to assess the association between nutrition literacy and diet quality, adjusting for socio-economic characteristics.

resultsAmong 1206 respondents (51.1% female), 85.9% were still in school, over 62% were from low socioeconomic status households, and only 14% used mobile phones. Low nutrition literacy (49%) was prevalent, with many unfamiliar with a balanced diet or ignoring dietary advice, although 62% were willing to promote healthy eating. Overall, 12.6% had poor diet quality based on GDQS, marked by frequent refined grain consumption and low fruit/vegetable intake. Having low nutrition literacy was associated with a close to five-fold increase in poor diets (adjusted OR = 4.71, 95% CI: 2.19-10.16) while mobile phone use was associated with better diet quality by 56% (aOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.27-0.74).

conclusionLow nutrition literacy is a significant burden among AYA, and is strongly associated with suboptimal diet quality. Implementing targeted interventions to improve nutrition literacy can enhance diet quality among AYA in the study area.

Indexed as

DietHealth LiteracyRural PopulationAdolescentChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSurveys and QuestionnairesUgandaYoung AdultAdolescentsDiet qualityMalnutritionNon-communicable diseasesNutrition literacyYoung adults

Identifiers

PMID40611004
PMCPMC12224839

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.