Table 3 Nutrition knowledge, competencies and attitudes by gender
|  | Total (n = 400) n (%) | Male (n = 183) n (%) | Female (n = 217) n (%) | p value between gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nutrition knowledge | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Food type—wholegrains, n (%) |  |  |  |  |
Incorrect | 41 (10.2) | 22 (12.0) | 19 (8.8) | 0.283 |
Correct | 359 (89.8) | 161 (88.0) | 198 (91.2) | Â |
Food type—fruits/vegetables, n (%) |  |  |  |  |
Incorrect | 4 (1.0) | 3 (1.6) | 1 (0.5) | 0.336 |
Correct | 396 (99.0) | 180 (98.4) | 216 (99.5) | Â |
Food type—meat, n (%) |  |  |  |  |
Incorrect | 3 (0.7) | 1 (0.5) | 2 (0.9) | 1.000 |
Correct | 397 (99.3) | 182 (99.5) | 215 (99.1) | Â |
Drink type, n (%) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Incorrect | 5 (1.2) | 4 (2.2) | 1 (0.5) | 0.183 |
Correct | 395 (98.8) | 179 (97.8) | 216 (99.5) | Â |
Portion—wholegrains, n (%) |  |  |  |  |
Incorrect | 204 (51.0) | 113 (61.7) | 91 (41.9) | < 0.001 |
Correct | 196 (49.0) | 70 (38.3) | 126 (58.1) | Â |
Portion – fruits/vegetables, n (%) |  |  |  |  |
Incorrect | 167 (41.7) | 86 (47.0) | 81 (37.3) | 0.051 |
Correct | 233 (58.3) | 97 (53.0) | 136 (62.7) | Â |
Portion—protein, n (%) |  |  |  |  |
Incorrect | 130 (32.5) | 70 (38.3) | 60 (27.6) | 0.024 |
Correct | 270 (67.5) | 113 (61.7) | 157 (72.4) | Â |
Nutrition competencies | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Aware of where to seek nutrition information | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Yes | 337 (84.3) | 149 (81.4) | 188 (86.6) | 0.154 |
b. No | 63 (15.7) | 34 (18.6) | 29 (13.4) | Â |
Able to understand nutrition information | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Yes | 376 (94.0) | 172 (94.0) | 204 (94.0) | 0.993 |
b. No | 24 (6.0) | 11 (6.0) | 13 (6.0) | Â |
Able to verify nutrition information | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Yes | 196 (49.0) | 89 (48.6) | 107 (49.3) | 0.953 |
b. No | 204 (51.0) | 94 (51.4) | 110 (50.7) | Â |
Leaves food decision to others | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Yes | 101 (25.3) | 78 (42.6) | 23 (10.6) | < 0.001 |
b. No | 299 (74.7) | 105 (57.4) | 194 (89.4) | Â |
Consumption of home cooked meals | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Yes | 361 (90.3) | 158 (86.3) | 203 (93.5) | 0.016 |
b. No | 39 (9.7) | 25 (13.7) | 14 (6.5) | Â |
Has access to help from family/friends | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Yes | 366 (91.5) | 166 (90.7) | 200 (92.2) | 0.603 |
b. No | 34 (8.5) | 17 (9.3) | 17 (7.8) | Â |
Able to access health services | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Yes | 395 (98.8) | 180 (98.4) | 215 (99.1) | 0.664 |
b. No | 5 (1.2) | 3 (1.6) | 2 (0.9) | Â |
Comfortable sharing dietary information with healthcare professionals | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Yes | 391 (97.8) | 180 (98.4) | 211 (97.2) | 0.517 |
b. No | 9 (2.2) | 3 (1.6) | 6 (2.8) | Â |
Nutrition-related attitudes | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Not important to consume nutritious meals | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Agree | 36 (9.1) | 18 (9.9) | 18 (8.3) | 0.592 |
b. Disagree | 364 (90.9) | 165 (90.1) | 199 (91.7) | Â |
Prefer to eat at home | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Agree | 378 (94.5) | 169 (92.3) | 209 (96.3) | 0.083 |
b. Disagree | 22 (5.5) | 14 (7.7) | 8 (3.70) | Â |
Consumption of simpler meals when alone/with spouse | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Agree | 196 (49.0) | 101 (55.2) | 95 (43.8) | 0.023 |
b. Disagree | 204 (51.1) | 82 (44.8) | 122 (56.2) | Â |
Cease consumption of unhealthy favourite foods | Â | Â | Â | Â |
a. Agree | 331 (82.8) | 149 (81.4) | 182 (83.9) | 0.518 |
b. Disagree | 69 (17.3) | 34 (18.6) | 35 (16.1) | Â |