The effect of e-healthy diet literacy on sustainable nutrition behaviours in pregnant women

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between e-healthy diet literacy and sustainable nutrition behaviours in pregnant women. Design: This study was a descriptive correlational study. Setting: Data were collected via self-report using a Personal Information Form, the e-Healthy Diet Literacy Questionnaire (e-HDLQ) and the Sustainable Nutrition Behavior Scale (SNBS). Participants: The study population consisted of all pregnant women living in Konya/TÜrkiye, and the sample included 290 pregnant women over the age of 18 years who voluntarily agreed to participate and were able to read and understand Turkish, the language of the questionnaire. Results: The total e-HDLQ score of the participants was 29·37 (sd 6·91) (min = 13, max = 46), and the total SNBS score was 109·18 (sd 17·07) (min = 37, max = 145). Weak but statistically significant associations were observed between the total e-HDLQ score and the SNBS sub-dimensions of food preference (r = 0·119) and food purchase (r = 0·117) (P < 0·05). Additionally, weak but statistically significant associations were identified between the e-HDLQ appraising sub-dimension and the total SNBS score (r = 0·125), its food preference sub-dimension (r = 0·134), and food waste reduction sub-dimension (r = 0·119) (P < 0·05). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that age, education level, history of having a low-birth-weight baby and food preference and food purchase sub-dimensions positively predicted e-HDLQ, whereas knowledge of nutrition and seasonal and local food consumption sub-dimension were negatively associated. For SNBS, the appraising sub-dimension positively predicted behaviour, while higher education level was negatively associated. Conclusions: The study shows that pregnant women's e-healthy diet literacy is weakly but significantly associated with various aspects of sustainable nutrition behaviours.