Publication Date: 2021/06/10
Abstract: Nutritional status of adolescents remains a global public health interest because of its importance towards preparing an individual nutritionally for a healthy adult life. Adolescents tend to indulge in explorative and convenience feeding behavior, yet at a crucial stage of life, with diverse manifestations of malnutrition due to poor diet and lack of health care service in some parts of Nigeria. This study aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and feeding practices of in-school adolescents in Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. The study adopted a cross sectional survey approach. A total of 375 in-school adolescents of private Secondary Schools in Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area of Lagos State were enlisted. A validated semi-structured questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha score of 0.78) was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, dietary knowledge, attitude, practices, and the anthropometric measurement of participants. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study achieved a response rate of 97.7%. The result shows that the respondents had fair knowledge, moderate attitude and moderate feeding practice. An association between nutritional knowledge and feeding practice, and between attitude towards nutrition and feeding practices exist among the students. Respondents’ knowledge (X2=12.02; p=0.03); was significantly associated with feeding practices. However, the respondent’s age (X2= 0.44, p=0.56); gender (X2=0.98; p=0.36); religion (X2=3.71; p=0.56), ethnicity (X2=0.90; p=0.83) and no of persons in the family (X2= 4.62, p=0.09) had no significant relationship with respondents feeding practices. In-school adolescents’ dietary knowledge and attitude influenced their feeding practices and nutritional status. It is recommended that school management should inculcate positive attitudes towards nutrition among in-school adolescents. Parents should create a balanced meal menu that will improve healthy diet practices among their adolescents
Keywords: Dietary Knowledge, Attitudes, Nutritional Status, Feeding Practices, In-School Adolescents.
DOI: No DOI Available
PDF: https://ijirst.demo4.arinfotech.co/assets/upload/files/IJISRT21MAY1065.pdf
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