ABSTRACT

The study have evaluated the Knowledge, Attitude and Consumption of Antioxidant rich foods among MOUAU undergraduates. Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage may lead to cancer. Examples of antioxidants include beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin A, C, E, and other substances. To assess their knowledge on antioxidant rich foods. The specific objectives were: To evaluate the undergraduates attitude towards foods rich in antioxidants, to assess the consumption pattern of antioxidant rich foods among undergraduates, to identify barriers that hinders the undergraduates from consuming antioxidant rich foods, to determine the socio-demographic factors of the respondents. The study was cross-sectional and descriptive in design. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select undergraduate students in MOUAU women. A well-structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-economic characteristics, knowledge of antioxidants, attitudes towards antioxidant rich foods, consumption patterns and barriers that hinders the consumption of antioxidant rich foods. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and correlation analysis. Significance was accepted at P<0.05. The mean was 24 years. The result revealed that majority (69.9%) of the students were females, majority (82.5%) were single more than half (69.7%) were dependent on someone. The result showed that the majority (86.9%) of the students had good knowledge of antioxidant rich foods. The result showed that 86.9% students also had good attitude towards antioxidant rich foods. The result on fruit and vegetable servings daily showed that nearly half (47.3%) consumed banana once a day, 61.1% consumed watermelon once a day, 56.4% consumed pineapple once a day, 69.7% consumed garden eggs once a day, 65.5% consumed large pear once a day, 69.5% consumed vegetable soup once a day, 52.9% consumed tomato stew once a day while 60.8% consumed mango once a day. The study concludes that the reasons for poor consumption of antioxidant rich foods include high cost of fruits, availability, seasonality and poor shelf life or storage. The study therefore recommends nutritional awareness on the essence of eating antioxidant rich foods as well as foods that are rich in antioxidants so as to enhance their food choices