ABSTRACT
The health and well-being of adolescent students are significantly
influenced by their food selection behaviors. This study investigates the
health belief determinants affecting the automatic food selection behavior of
adolescents in public secondary schools across rural and urban areas of Abia
State. Employing a descriptive cross-sectional design, data was collected from
220 students aged 12-18 years using structured questionnaires. The findings
reveal that family structure, educational status of parents, and socio-economic
characteristics impact adolescents' food choices.
A notable 74.5% of respondents lived with both parents, suggesting a
stable environment that may reinforce consistent dietary habits. The
educational attainment of mothers, with 49.1% holding tertiary education,
correlates with better nutritional knowledge, influencing family food choices.
Urban students demonstrated a higher ability to control their food choices and
recognize unhealthy options compared to their rural counterparts. Specifically,
55.9% of urban students identified popcorn and soft drinks as unhealthy, in
contrast to 33.6% and 38.2% of rural students, respectively. Health belief
determinants reveal that urban students struggle less with resisting unhealthy
foods (mean: -0.80±1.42) compared to rural students (mean: 0.22±1.68). Urban
students are also more likely to believe that healthy foods are more expensive
(mean: 1.41±1.25) compared to rural students (mean: 1.33±1.26), and they report
less confusion about which foods are healthy (mean: -1.07±0.27 for urban vs.
1.05±0.46 for rural). The perceived barriers, including the influence of
advertisements and the presence of unhealthy foods at home, show differences
between locations, with urban students reporting lower perceived barriers. Further, urban students exhibit higher
self-efficacy in controlling their food choices, with a mean score of -0.12±1.17
compared to 0.42±1.42 in rural areas. They are more confident in resisting
unhealthy food temptations (mean: 0.85±1.47 for urban vs. 1.32±1.25 for rural),
but they feel less control over their food choices compared to rural students.
The study underscores the significant variations in health belief determinants
between urban and rural settings. Socio-economic factors, such as parental
education and occupation, play a crucial role in shaping adolescents' health
beliefs and food choices. Notably, the highest educational level of the father
showed a positive correlation with healthier food selection (r = .151, p <
.05), suggesting that fathers with higher education levels may encourage better
dietary choices.
Overall, the research highlights the need for targeted interventions that
address specific health belief determinants and socio-economic factors
influencing adolescent food selection behavior, aiming to promote healthier
eating habits and improve health outcomes in diverse contexts.
NMESOMACHI, P (2025). Health Belief Determinants Associated With Automatic Food Selection Behaviour Of Adolescent Students In Private Secondary Schools In Rural And Urban Locations In Abia State:- Onyegbule, Nmesomachi P. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Jul 11, 2025, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/health-belief-determinants-associated-with-automatic-food-selection-behaviour-of-adolescent-students-in-private-secondary-schools-in-rural-and-urban-locations-in-abia-state-onyegbule-nmesomachi-p-7-2
PRECIOUS, NMESOMACHI. "Health Belief Determinants Associated With Automatic Food Selection Behaviour Of Adolescent Students In Private Secondary Schools In Rural And Urban Locations In Abia State:- Onyegbule, Nmesomachi P" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 10 Jul. 2025, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/health-belief-determinants-associated-with-automatic-food-selection-behaviour-of-adolescent-students-in-private-secondary-schools-in-rural-and-urban-locations-in-abia-state-onyegbule-nmesomachi-p-7-2. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
PRECIOUS, NMESOMACHI. "Health Belief Determinants Associated With Automatic Food Selection Behaviour Of Adolescent Students In Private Secondary Schools In Rural And Urban Locations In Abia State:- Onyegbule, Nmesomachi P". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 10 Jul. 2025. Web. 11 Jul. 2025. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/health-belief-determinants-associated-with-automatic-food-selection-behaviour-of-adolescent-students-in-private-secondary-schools-in-rural-and-urban-locations-in-abia-state-onyegbule-nmesomachi-p-7-2 >.
PRECIOUS, NMESOMACHI. "Health Belief Determinants Associated With Automatic Food Selection Behaviour Of Adolescent Students In Private Secondary Schools In Rural And Urban Locations In Abia State:- Onyegbule, Nmesomachi P" Mouau.afribary.org (2025). Accessed 11 Jul. 2025. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/health-belief-determinants-associated-with-automatic-food-selection-behaviour-of-adolescent-students-in-private-secondary-schools-in-rural-and-urban-locations-in-abia-state-onyegbule-nmesomachi-p-7-2