Nutrition Literacy Linked to Adolescent Eating Behaviour in Ho Municipality Study

Nutrition literacy is positively and significantly associated with adolescent eating behaviour, while general health literacy and parental socio-economic characteristics show no significant link, according to a school-based cross-sectional study conducted in the Ho Municipality, Ghana. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a positive association between nutrition literacy and eating behaviour (r = 0.39, p < .001). In multiple linear regression analysis, nutrition literacy remained significantly associated with eating behaviour (β = .42, p < .001), whereas general health literacy showed no statistically significant relationship (β = .05, p = .34).

The study evaluated a sample of 494 adolescents drawn from three senior high schools located within the Ho Municipality. Investigators collected data through structured questionnaires assessing participants’ health literacy, nutrition literacy, eating behaviour, and parental socio-economic characteristics. The dataset was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and Kruskal–Wallis tests.

The analysis also determined that parental socio-economic indicators, specifically parental income and educational attainment, were not significantly associated with adolescent eating behaviour (p > .05). The authors noted that although adolescence represents a critical developmental period for establishing dietary habits that impact long-term health outcomes, prior evidence examining the influence of health literacy and nutrition literacy on adolescent eating habits in Ghana remained limited.

The researchers concluded that nutrition-specific knowledge and skills may play an important role in supporting healthy dietary choices among adolescents, whereas general health literacy and parental socio-economic status did not show significant associations. They highlighted that interventions specifically designed to strengthen nutrition literacy could help foster healthier eating practices and support ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.

Subject of Research: Associations between nutrition literacy, health literacy, and adolescent eating behaviour in Ghana

Article Title: Understanding adolescent eating behaviour in the Ho Municipality, Ghana: associations with nutrition literacy and health literacy

Article References: Amoah, R. M., Akakpo, M. G., & Saah, J. A. (2026). Understanding adolescent eating behaviour in the Ho Municipality, Ghana: associations with nutrition literacy and health literacy. BMC Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-026-01542-7

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s40795-026-01542-7

Keywords: nutrition literacy, health literacy, adolescent eating behaviour, Ghana, Ho Municipality, senior high schools, cross-sectional study, parental socio-economic characteristics, Understanding, adolescent, eating, behaviour