ABSTRACT

The study investigated the influence of health locus of control on the consumption of fruits and vegetables among adolescents in public secondary schools in Ikwuano, LGA, Abia State. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 146 adolescents in public secondary schools in Ikwuano LGA, Abia State. The data was collected using self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was used to elicit information on the students' socio-demographic characteristics, health locus of control and fruit and vegetable consumption behaviour. The data collected was analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 23, presented in percentage, frequencies, standard deviation and point bi-serial correlation. Correlation was employed to examine the associations between socio-demographic characteristics, health locus of control, and fruit and vegetable consumption behaviour of the adolescents. Findings from the socio-demographic characteristics revealed that almost half (45.9%) of the students were between the ages of 10-12 years. Findings from the health locus of control revealed that the both gender had negative internal health locus of control (-0.29), with the females having higher (-0.57) negative mean of internal health locus of control than male adolescents (-0.04). The findings also revealed that both the male and female adolescents had negative external health locus of control (-0.96 for females and -0.96 for males). The findings further revealed that the males had higher (-0.21) chance health locus of control than female adolescents (-0.14). Findings from the fruit and vegetable consumption behaviour revealed that the adolescents had the mean of 3.21 for food frequency (three times in the past one month) and 2.42 for dietary diversity (in the past 24 hours). The findings also revealed that among the vegetable group, the adolescents (48.6%) consumed fluted pumpkin more than other vegetables, and among the fruit group, the adolescents (30.0%) consumed banana more than other fruits. In the association between socio-demographic characteristics, health locus of control and fruit and vegetable consumption behaviour of the adolescents, the findings revealed that there was a positive significant relationship 0.19*(0.02) between fathers that had tertiary education and internal health locus of control. Conversely, there was a negative significant relationship -0.25**(0.00) between mothers that had tertiary education and chance health locus of control. The result further revealed a positive relationship 0.18(0.03) between fathers that had tertiary education and food frequency. The study concludes that while adolescents from moderately educated and affluent families possess some health awareness, their fruit and vegetable consumption falls below recommended levels. A significant association was observed between fathers that had tertiary education and healthier dietary behaviours, emphasizing the critical role of parental influence. Recommendations include school-based nutrition programs, parental engagement initiatives, and further research to understand the underlying factors affecting adolescent dietary behaviours of fruits and vegetables.