title: Behavioral correlates of fruit and vegetable intake in Puerto Rico: results from the Health Information National Trends Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A diet high in fruit and vegetables (FV) is associated with a decreased risk for chronic diseases, such as cancer. Limited information exists regarding the factors associated with FV intake in persons living in Puerto Rico. The objective of this study was to examine sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-belief factors associated with dietary habits in Puerto Rico.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis of adults aged 18 years and older from the Puerto Rico Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-PR) conducted in 2009. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with meeting the established recommendations for FV consumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 14.5% of the adults in Puerto Rico met the recommendations for daily FV intake, and the vast majority (90.9%) were unaware of current recommendations. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that being obese, having lower than a high school education, and not knowing the recommendations were significantly associated with not meeting these recommendations. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, being obese (OR = 3.77; 95% CI = 1.41-10.08) and not being aware of the current dietary recommendations (OR = 9.26; 95% CI = 3.77-22.73) continued to be significantly associated with not meeting the FV intake recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Puerto Rican population is far from meeting FV consumption recommendations, with prevalence estimates of consumption that are below the US median. Low FV intake might put the population in Puerto Rico at increased risk of developing cancer as well as a number of other chronic diseases that are secondary both to improper nutrition and to obesity.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Services Administration, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico. vivian.colon@upr.edu
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colón-López
authors.affiliation: Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Department of Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Geetanjoli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Alida María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gertz
authors.affiliation: Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Department of Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Ana Patricia
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Division of Management, Policy and Community Health, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Calo
authors.affiliation: SAIC, Inc., Frederick National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Lila J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Finney-Rutten
authors.affiliation: Departmentof Global Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: Uriyoán
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Colón-Ramos
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Bradford W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Hesse
authors.affiliation: Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Department of Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tortolero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D003625:Data Collection; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables