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Abstract
To evaluate the relationship between parental literacy and children's nutritional status, 103 low-income caregivers of 2- to 5-year-olds completed a brief quiz to determine their reading level and questionnaires regarding demographics, nutrition knowledge, and eating environment. Up to three 24-hour recalls of the children's diets were completed by the caregivers. Children were asked to provide anthropometric measurements (n = 98) and blood samples (n = 63). Data were analyzed by ANCOVA and partial correlations. Compared to the high-literate caregivers (n = 63), low-literate caregivers (n = 40) had significantly less education and were less likely to look at the nutritional value of food when planning meals. Their children were less likely to eat within two hours of waking up in the morning, and their scores of nutrition knowledge and eating environment were significantly lower. As a result, their children consumed significantly less dietary fiber, calcium, and vitamin E. No significant differences were found between the groups of children for the anthropometric measurements or the blood parameters. Significant correlations among the measures of hunger and food insecurity were found for all of the sample members. Literacy level correlated positively with educational achievement and various sources of nutrition information. Interventions with low-income and low-literate populations should continue to emphasize the resources available to them. Low-literate adults should be encouraged to attend classes of adult basic education so that their health and well being can be improved.
