Food and nutrition knowledge in Chilean high school graduates.

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of knowledge on food and nutrition in students graduating from high school in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago. The sample included 272 students of both sexes and type of school (public and private) and from high, medium and low socioeconomic level (SEL), measured through the Graffar Modified Scale. The degree of knowledge on food and nutrition was measured through a test of 48 items based on curriculum program objectives. The test covered three areas: Area 1, Food and Requirements; Area 2, Food, Personal and Environmental Hygiene, and Area 3, Nutritional Physiology. Students showed a good achievement of the food and nutrition objectives that are considered essential for obtaining and adequate nutrition and health status. Students from high SEL registered a significantly higher degree of knowledge on food and nutrition than students from other strata (p less than 0.001). However, sex and type of school had no effect on the degree of food and nutrition knowledge. This study is a contribution to the better understanding of factors affecting the food and nutrition knowledge, and provides good foundations for further studies.