HEALTH MESSAGES AND COMPLIANCE BY UNDERGRADUATE CONSUMERS OF ROADSIDE FOOD AROUND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The overall purpose of this study was to ascertain the level that undergraduate students in universities around Anambra State comply with health messages on the dangers of patronizing roadside food outlets. The study was guided by four research questions which include the following: To what extent are university undergraduate students in Anambra State exposed to messages on health implications of patronizing roadside food outlets? To what extent are the undergraduate students knowledgeable on the implication of patronizing roadside food outlets? To what extent do these students comply with messages of health implication of eating at roadside food outlets? What demographic factors affect the undergraduate students’ compliance with the health messages on the implications of eating at roadside food outlets? Anchored on the Health belief Model, the study adopted the survey research method. Findings suggest that: undergraduate students in universities around Anambra State were exposed to health messages on the implication of patronizing roadside food outlets. The research further reveals that majority of the undergraduate students were knowledgeable on the implication of patronizing roadside food outlets. Surprisingly, irrespective of the undergraduate students’ exposure and knowledge of the dangers of eating at roadside food outlets, it was discovered that they did not comply with health messages on the dangers of eating at roadside food outlets. Furthermore, the findings also reveal that such demographic factors like: age and class level of the undergraduate students’ had influence on their compliance with dangers of patronizing roadside food outlet, gender however did not. The researchers therefore recommended that communication experts get fully involved in the development of health-behviour change messages. They should look from within and identify factors that would negatively affect strategic health media messages intended to bring about sustainable health behavior change for a better living.