Tailoring Nutrition Literacy Scale for Rural Women: Development and Validation

Jagriti Kumari; Basavaprabhu Jirli; Arun Kumar Singh; Prashish Singh; M. Chennamadhava; Harshit Paliwal

doi:10.48165/IJEE.2026.621RT03

Authors

Jagriti Kumari PhD
Basavaprabhu Jirli Director, Centre for Multi-disciplinary Development Research, Dharwad-580004, Karnataka, India.
Arun Kumar Singh Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Prashish Singh Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
M. Chennamadhava Ph.D. Scholars, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Harshit Paliwal Ph.D. Scholars, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.

https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2026.621RT03

Keywords:

Nutrition literacy, Rural women, Scale development, Psychometrics, Women’s Health

Abstract

Nutrition literacy (NL) is essential for fostering and sustaining healthy dietary behaviours. However, data on NL among rural women in India are limited, and existing measurement tools lack cultural appropriateness for this population. To address this gap, this study conducted during 2024–2025, developed and validated the Nutrition Literacy Scale for Rural Women (NLS-RW), measuring; cognitive, functional, interactive, and critical domains of NL. An initial pool of 100 statements was generated and then refined to 95 items. Relevancy testing with 60 subject matter experts using a five-point scale informed retention decisions was performed based on relevancy percentage (RP), relevancy weightage (RW), and mean relevancy score (MRS). Item analysis with a sample of 64 rural women aged 15–49 years from three districts of Jharkhand (Chatra, Ranchi, and Khunti) was conducted. Reliability was assessed using split-half correlation (Spearman–Brown adjustment) and Cronbach’s alpha. Content validity yielded a scale-level content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) of 0.92, indicating excellent content validity. The final scale comprised 57 items and showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.948; Spearman–Brown coefficient = 0.968). The NLS-RW comprehensively captures multiple dimensions of nutrition literacy among rural women.

Author Biographies

Basavaprabhu Jirli, Director, Centre for Multi-disciplinary Development Research, Dharwad-580004, Karnataka, India.

Director, Centre for Multi-disciplinary Development Research, Dharwad-580004, Karnataka, India.
Arun Kumar Singh, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Senior Professor & Head, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Prashish Singh, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Ph.D. Scholars, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
M. Chennamadhava, Ph.D. Scholars, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Ph.D. Scholars, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Harshit Paliwal, Ph.D. Scholars, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Ph.D. Scholars, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.

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