Abstract:
Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the correlates of diet quality among adults in a suburban area in Johor, Malaysia.
Methodology: A cross sectional study among 300 participants was carried out in a suburban area located in Johor during the study period of two weeks in September 2018. A systematic random sampling without replacement method was conducted and the individuals who met the selection criteria were selected for this study. The Healthy Eating Index for Malaysians (M-HEI) was used to determine the diet quality of adults. The survey instruments to determine sociodemographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, 24-hour dietary recalls and health status were also conducted amongst the participants.
Results: The prevalence of participants who scored M-HEI score of 46 and below with an indication of at risk of poor diet quality is 58.3%. The factors such as lower education level (p=0.047) and consumption of alcohol (p=0.010) were statistically significantly associated with M-HEI scores. No association could be seen from other factors with M-HEI scores.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the prevalence of at risk of poor diet quality among the participants residing in a suburban area in Johor, Malaysia was 58.3%. Multivariate analysis revealed that adults with an education level below tertiary level were more likely to be at risk of poor diet quality. Those adults who reported alcohol intake were non-Muslims and found to be at low risk of poor diet quality.
Key words: Determinants, diet quality, Healthy Eating Index (HEI), adults, Malaysia
