Health Literacy and the Role of Related Factors in Food Handlers: Based on a Cross-Sectional Study in Regional Malaysia

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2 Centre for Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

3 School of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences University, Parkwood Campus, Parkwood Road, Bournemouth, BH5 2DF, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Research on food handlers has predominantly focused on food safety, neglecting the importance of health literacy. Health literacy plays a pivotal role in equipping an individual with healthy lifestyle and work practices. This study aims to assess the health literacy level of food handlers and evaluate determinants influencing their health literacy.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in May-August 2023 involving 274 food handlers from 46 food outlets in Kota Marudu, Sabah, Malaysia chosen from cluster random sampling. A validated questionnaire, the Health Literacy Survey Short Form 12 (HLS-SF12) was employed to assess health literacy levels alongside sociodemographic, medical illness, healthy lifestyle practices, food handling training and recent typhoid vaccination status. The inclusion criteria are food handlers working at registered food premises, aged 18 and above. The exclusion criteria are those unable to read or comprehend English or Malay language. Frequency and percentages were used to describe the studied population while chi-square and logistic regression to determine factors associated with health literacy.

Results: The majority of participants were Malaysians, female, married and possessed a secondary level of education. Among participants, 67.9% possessed good health literacy while 32.1% had low health literacy. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that education and under the healthy lifestyle practices factors; the annual medical examinations were significantly associated with health literacy. Food handlers who did not undergo annual medical examinations (adjusted Odds Ratio: 2.429, 95% Confidence Intervals: 1.007-5.863, p-value=0.048) and with education level below secondary (adjusted Odds Ratio: 11.305, 95% Confidence Intervals:5.735-22.287, p<0.001) were significantly associated with low health literacy. 

Conclusions: Promoting routine medical check-ups and having sustainable health education tailored according to educational background will enhance health literacy among food handlers, effectively empowering to make well-informed choices, thereby improving adherence to food safety protocols and promoting positive health outcomes.

Keywords

Acknowledgements: Our sincere appreciation to all the study participants who agreed to participate in this research. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies of any organization.


Availability of data and materials: Upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.


Conflicts of interests: All authors declared that they have no competing interests. 


Consent for publication: Not applicable


Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval from University of Malaya Research Ethics Committee (UMREC) was obtained prior to the commencement of the study procedures (Reference number: UM. TNC2/UMREC_2531). The study population was recruited based on voluntary basis. All participants were given option to withdraw from the study anytime during the study period without any obligations. They were assured of the confidentiality and anonymity of all data collected.


Funding: No financial support was received for this study.


Author contributions: PAP: contributed to conceptualization, methodology, data collection, data analysis and manuscript writing, NAK: contributed to conceptualization, methodology, manuscript review, editing and study supervision, HAM: contributed to conceptualization, manuscript review and editing. FH: contributed to manuscript review and editing.

 

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Available Online from 30 November 2024

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