Knowledge and Intake of Fruit and Vegetables Consumption among Adults in an Urban Community in North Central Nigeria

Authors

  • Mathilda Edmund Banwat Department of Community Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos
  • Luret Albert Lar Department of Community Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos
  • Jonathan Daboer Department of Community Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos
  • Sunday Audu Department of Community Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos
  • Samuel Lassa Department of Community Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v12i1.79

Keywords:

Fruits, Vegetables, Knowledge, Consumption

Abstract

Background: Fruit and vegetable consumption is an essential source of vital nutrients for the body's micronutrient requirements. However, the knowledge and intake of this essential aspect of nutrition is globally poor. This study therefore aimed at assessing the knowledge and intake of vegetables and fruits among adults in Tudun Wada Community of Jos North LGA, Central Nigeria.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study where 250 respondents were selected using a Multi¬stage Sampling technique. Structured questionnaires were used to gather data, which were analyzed using Epi info version 3.5.1. Qualitative data are presented as frequencies and percentages while Chi-square is used to evaluate associations between outcome variables and demographic variables.

Results: There was an overall fair knowledge of the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables among majority (92.4%) the respondents, with a statistically significant association between level of education attained and knowledge (p<0.05). Females were also noted to have a better practice of fruit and vegetable consumption than their male peers (p < 0.05). The appropriate practice of fruit and vegetable consumption was however not as high as knowledge: with only 69.2% of the respondents having appropriate consumption practices.

Conclusion: The low level of appropriate practice of fruit and vegetable consumption by adults in the study area needs to be improved by health workers using the mass media, health talks and one-on-one health education of patients and clients during health facility visits.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ruel MT, Nicholas M, Lisa S. Patterns and determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa. FAO/WHO workshop on fruits and vegetables strdfor health, 13th September 2004. Japan. [Online] Available at www.who.mt../en/. Accessed 21/5/2011.

Park S. Nutrition and Health; In: Park's textbook ofthpreventive and social medicine. 18 edition, Bhanot Publishers, India 2005:442 452.

Hill, MD. Recall fruit and vegetable intake while growing up and its association with adult fruit and vegetable intake among United States adults. [Online] Available at digitalarchives.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent. Accessed 21/5/2011.

Hart, AD., Azubuike, CU., Barimala, SC. Vegetable consumption patterns of households in selected areas ofthe old Rivers state of Nigeria. African Journal of Food Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 2005; 5(1):http://www.ajfand.net/Volume5/No1/index1.htPage 15ml Accessed 23/5/2011.

McClelland JW, Demark-Wahnefried W, Mustian RD, Cowan AT, Campbell MK. Fruit and vegetable consumption of rural African-Americans; Baseline survey results of Black Churches United for Better Health. Nutr Cancer.1998; 30(2):148-57.

United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality, Weekly Report (MMWR) State specific Trends in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, United States, 2000 2009. MMWR 2011; 59 (35):1125 1130.

Sheikh, AR. Psychosocial predictors of fruit and vegetable consumption in adults: a review of the Literature. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.2006; 6(34):535 543.

Ibrahim, FM. Fruity response efficacy and fruit consumption among a group of civil servants in Oyo state, Nigeria. American Journal of Food and Nutrition. AJFN 2011;1(1):44-48.

Ruta, FS. Knowledge, beliefs and practices related to the consumption of Fruits and vegetables in Samoa. A FAO sub-regional office for the Pacific Islands Research Report. [Online]Available at www.faopacific.ws/portals/167. Accessed 20/5/2011.

National Population Commission (NPC) [Nigeria] and ICF Macro. 2009. Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2008. Abuja, Nigeria: National Population Commission and ICF Macro. P10-60

Bettina, MB., Rochelle, R. and Leam, M. Knowledge, attitude and practices related to fruit and vegetable consumption of high school students.[Online]Available at www.linkighub.elsevier.com Accessed 19/5/2011.

Baker, A. & Wardle, J. Sex differences in fruit and vegetable intake in older adults. Science Direct, 2003; 40(3):269-275.

Gary, J. Current status of fruit and vegetable production and consumption in Francophone African countries: Potential impact on health. Proceedings of International Banwat M.E, et al - Fruit and Vegetable consumptionThe Nigerian Health Journal, Vol. 12, No 1, January - March, 2012

Downloads

Published

2015-12-09

How to Cite

Banwat, M. E., Lar, L. A., Daboer, J., Audu, S., & Lassa, S. (2015). Knowledge and Intake of Fruit and Vegetables Consumption among Adults in an Urban Community in North Central Nigeria. The Nigerian Health Journal, 12(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v12i1.79
Abtract Views | PDF Download | EPUB Download: 800 / 1062

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.