Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative survey among 85 hypertensive patients selected by convenience and systematic sampling. Health literacy was measured using the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and BRIEF health literacy tools. Binary logistic regression examined associations between health literacy and nutrition behaviours after adjusting for a priori selected demographic factors.

Results:  Most participants were female (64%), in the age category 60-75 and overweight/obese (68%), exhibiting low consumption of fruits (57%), vegetables (61%), whole grains (61%) and low-fat dairy (74%). 17.6% read the nutrition facts panel. Using the NVS, 19% had adequate health literacy. Patients with both a high likelihood and possibility of limited health literacy were more likely to sometimes/rarely/never use the nutrition facts panel (OR 23.96;OR 11.11 respectively) and less likely to have low consumption of poultry/fish/beans (OR 0.063;OR 0.134 respectively). Widows were less likely (OR 0.072), and those without children at home were more likely to sometimes/rarely/never use the nutrition facts panel (OR 4.63). Using the BRIEF, 40% had adequate health literacy. Patients with marginal health literacy were 13 times more likely to sometimes/rarely/never use the nutrition facts panel and less likely to have low consumption of poultry/fish/beans (OR 0.206).

Conclusion: Hypertensive patients require nutrition intervention/education tailored to their health literacy deficits. Addressing health literacy through health systems strengthening, policy change and investment is critical for hypertension prevention and management in Jamaica.