Level of knowledge on healthy eating and its relation with sociodemographic factors in elderly adults of Curgos, Peru

Abstract

The level of knowledge on 10 steps for a healthy eating established for Peru and its relation with some sociodemographic factors in elderly adults of the district of Curgos, La Libertad-Peru, was studied. It was used a random sampling by conglomerates for the selection of 255 individuals, as well as a descriptive design to study the level of knowledge and a correlational one to study the relations between this variable and the considered factors. Data were collected by means of an interview guide and analyzed by means of the correlation of Pearson and the chi square, t, ANOVA, and multiple comparison tests. The 10-step knowledge average (0,74) was over the acceptable minimum value (0,66). The level of the 10-step knowledge is acceptable in most of the elderly adults; steps two (include all the nourishing groups daily) and ten (ask for advise if special eating is required) are known acceptably with the highest and lowest average by the largest and smallest part of the individuals, respectively. The most relevant correlation between the level of knowledge of some steps is positive and weak, but highly significant. Finally, the information source is the only factor significantly associated to the level of knowledge in such population.