Effect of Food Traffic Light Training on Mother’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practice

Abstract

Unhealthy eating habits and a high intake of energy, salt, sugar, fat and trans-fatty acids are introduced as dietary risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Since one of the key strategies to combat high-risk food behaviors in families is the establishment of healthy eating habits by mothers, this study aims to investigate the effect of nutrition traffic light (TL) education on mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practice. This semi-experimental intervention was conducted among 84 mothers covered by the health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The participants were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups (42 participants in each group). Data were collected through a standard questionnaire at three points (before, one week after, and one month after the intervention) across 12 sessions from June 15 to August 15, 2022. The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, t-test, and chi-square test through SPSS software, version 21. After education, the mean scores of knowledge, attitude and practice improved from 8.61±1.36, 25±2.81 and 22.61±8.6 to 11.71±0.63, 28.04±2.52 and 28.38±4.74, respectively. A comparison of the two groups revealed a significant increase in the scores of knowledge, attitude and practice in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Thus, training on food TL labeling can enhance mothers’ knowledge, attitude, and practice related to choosing healthier food. This method of education can be considered effective in both quantitatively and qualitatively improving families’ eating habits.

Keywords

• food traffic lights (tl)
• knowledge
• attitude
• practice