Determinants of nutritional behaviour of secondary school students in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The researchers’ purpose in the study was to assess the determinants of nutritional behaviour of secondary schools students in Akwa Ibom State, using a descriptive survey design. Five research questions and three null hypotheses were verified in the study. The determinants of nutritional behaviour (DNB)” questionnaire was used to collect data from a multi-stage simple random sample of 450 drawn from the 1320 Senior Secondary II students in the State. Percentage analysis of data revealed a high positive score of 69.2% on knowledge of nutritional values, and a high positive score of 61.5% on the nutritional behaviour of students. Findings from Chi-square analysis revealed that knowledge of nutrition, family income and gender had significant influence of the nutritional behaviour of secondary school students in the state. Based on the findings, it was recommended that planned and consistent nutrition education should be undertaken to sustain and improve the level of knowledge and nutritional behaviour of students. Also, government should formulate policies that will improve on the social and economic status of people, while intensifying the poverty reduction programmes at the various levels. Key words: Students nutritional determinants, knowledge, behaviour, values.