ABSTRACT

 This study investigated the feeding habits of Senior Secondary School boarders in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The aim of the study was to obtain baseline data needed for planning an appropriate programme for healthy feeding and nutrition education for Senior Secondary School boarders. Feeding habits, nutrition education knowledge and nutritional status were studied using validated questionnaires. One hundred and eighty (sixty from each of the schools in rural, sub-urban and urban areas) were selected by random sampling technique from the senior classes for the study. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results showed that secondary school boarders in Akwa Ibom State have poor feeding habits. A high degree of meal skipping was observed. The meal skipped was breakfast. Parent's occupation has no significant (r -0.078, P>0.05) effect on their feeding habits. There was a positive significant relationship (r = 0.253, P<0.05) between environment and feeding habits. Household number has a negative significant relationship (r = -0.160, P><0.05) on their meal frequency. The major factors that affect their feeding habits were advertisement and environment. The subjects in the rural and urban areas had better nutrition education knowledge than their counterparts in the sub-urban area. 53.3% and 36.7% of urban and rural subjects had excellent nutrition education knowledge respectively while only 23.3% of sub-urban subjects had excellente nutrition education knowledge. An evaluation of their Body Mass Index (BMI) showed that 68% of respondents were normal, 26% were underweight, 4% were overweight while 2% were obese. However, there was no significant relationship (r = 0.096, P><0.05) between their feeding habit and their BMI. The food preferences revealed that rural females liked Jellof rice (3 8.6%), Rice and stew (44.1%), Garri and soup (44.3%), Beans (36.4%), and Biscuit (35.1%) very much compared to those in urban and sub-urban areas. The most liked snacks are Meat pie, Ice cream, Soft thinks and Biscuits. Fruits liked very much by the respondents in rural, urban and sub-urban areas are Orange and Mango. However Fufu, Beans, Pap and Moi Moi were not liked very much.>< 0.05) on their meal frequency. The major factors that affect their feeding habits were advertisement and environment. The subjects in the rural and urban areas had better nutrition education knowledge than their counterparts in the sub-urban area. 53.3% and 36.7% of urban and rural subjects had excellent nutrition education knowledge respectively while only 23.3% of sub-urban subjects had excellente nutrition education knowledge. An evaluation of their Body Mass Index (BMI) showed that 68% of respondents were normal, 26% were underweight, 4% were overweight while 2% were obese. However, there was no significant relationship (r = 0.096, P<0.05) between their feeding habit and their BMI. The food preferences revealed that rural females liked Jellof rice (3 8.6%), Rice and stew (44.1%), Garri and soup (44.3%), Beans (36.4%), and Biscuit (35.1%) very much compared to those in urban and sub-urban areas. The most liked snacks are Meat pie, Ice cream, Soft thinks and Biscuits. Fruits liked very much by the respondents in rural, urban and sub-urban areas are Orange and Mango. However Fufu, Beans, Pap and Moi Moi were not liked very much.