Main sources of information on nutrition of various socio-economic groups

Abstract

Abstract Backgroud For effective non-communicable disease prevention and health promotion programs, it is very important to know from where the targeted audience gets all the information on nutrition (NI). The shortage of this information lead to the aim of this study - to determine the main sources of NI of various socio-economic groups. Methods Cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. 1007 residents of Lithuania aged 18-75 were surveyed by anonymous questionnaire. Survey was carried out by using multi-stage stratified random sampling. Chi square test was used for the data analysis. Results More than half respondents (58.6% (95% CI: 55.5; 61.6)) indicated that one of their main sources of NI is internet, 47.2% (95% CI: 44.1; 50.3) of respondents trusts television and radio. Only one third of residents (36% (95% CI: 33.1; 39.1)) indicated physicians and pharmacists as the main source of NI and only 20.6% (95% CI: 18.2; 23.2) of them received NI from specialized nutrition and health magazines. Younger people were more likely to choose internet as the main source of NI (65,7%, 58%, 54,1% accordingly (p = 0.004)). Internet as the main source of NI was significantly related to residence, education, income and marital status. The number of respondents who identified television as the main source of IN was significantly higher among the rural population (53.2%) and small-town population (52.9%) than among the population of big cities (39.4%) (p < 0.0001). Choosing television as one of main source of NI was significantly related to age, education, income and marital status. 24.3% of women and 16.4% of man indicated that the main source is specialized nutrition and health magazines (p = 0.002). Conclusions Best place for spreading NI is internet and television. When trying to target young people the best place is internet and for targeting senior citizens NI is better to carry out by television and radio. Key messages Most population gets information about nutrition from internet and television. Most young people gets information about nutrition from internet and most older people gets information from television and radio.