Nutrition knowledge among a sample of urban black and white South Africans

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate gaps in nutrition knowledge and the relationship between nutrition knowledge and sociodemographic characteristics in an urban black and white South African population. The sample included 90 blacks and 90 whites living in former white and black urban areas in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, chosen by systematic random sampling via a telephone survey. Measures used included a general nutrition knowledge questionnaire. Results indicate that both blacks and whites seem to have a reasonable knowledge of dietary recommendations and sources of nutrients but have less knowledge on the diet-disease relationship, particularly with regard to choosing everyday foods that are healthier. Whites have significantly more general nutrition knowledge than blacks. Although there was no significant difference when comparing black and white men on general nutrition knowledge, black women had significantly lower nutrition knowledge than white women.