ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEL OF HEALTH AND NUTRITION EDUCATION KNOWLEDGE AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN UMUAHIA

Abstract

The study determined the need for Nutrition and Health Education among members of different householdsin the urban city of Umuahia. Two research questions guided the study. A descriptive survey design wasemployed for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire and validated.The questionnaire elicited information on the demographic characteristics of the household members,information on the need for health and nutrition education to be promoted and the expected skills necessaryfor the nutrition and health education. Multistage cluster sampling technique was adopted to elicitinformation from 400 respondents from 90 households. The reliability of the instrument was ascertainedusing Pearson product moment correlation coefficient which yielded a reliability index of 0.63. The datacollected were analyzed using mean to answer question one and two. The result of the showed that householdmembers within Umuahia have an agreeable level of nutrition education knowledge. Item No 9 with a meanof 1. 65 indicate that good job may not necessarily depend on knowledge of health and nutrition education.While answer to research question two showed that these households do not utilize these skills in promotinghealth and nutrition education knowledge. The target population area is Umuahia south and North L.G.A.added to support estimated level of nutrition education among households. The study recommended thatregular advocacy on health and nutrition education be organized by independent, non-governmental andgovernmental agencies to enhance and promote family and national development.