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

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 ۲۰۲۳ involving ۲۷۴ food handlers from ۴۶ food outlets in Kota Marudu, Sabah, Malaysia chosen from cluster random sampling. A validated questionnaire, the Health Literacy Survey Short Form ۱۲ (HLS-SF۱۲) 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 ۱۸ 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, ۶۷.۹% possessed good health literacy while ۳۲.۱% 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: ۲.۴۲۹, ۹۵% Confidence Intervals: ۱.۰۰۷-۵.۸۶۳, p-value=۰.۰۴۸) and with education level below secondary (adjusted Odds Ratio: ۱۱.۳۰۵, ۹۵% Confidence Intervals:۵.۷۳۵-۲۲.۲۸۷, p<۰.۰۰۱) 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.

کلیدواژه ها:

Food Handling ، Health Literacy ، healthy lifestyle ، health promotion