ABSTRACT

The study determined the knowledge, attitude and vegetable consumption pattern among staff of state secretariats, Asaba, Delta state, Nigeria. The data for the study were generated by interviewing 160 staff working at state secretariats Asaba, Delta State.  The study was aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude and vegetable consumption pattern among staff of the state secretariats, Asaba using multistage sampling technique. The survey instrument was structured, validated and pretested questionnaire. The data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 20) and the results presented in frequencies and percentages .Forty-eight (48.8%) of the respondents were males, while51.2% were females. Majority (47.5%) were within 31-43 years, and 26.3% of them were at the age range of 44-56 years while few (3.8%) of the respondents were above 56 years of age. Majority (71.9%) of the respondents were married, while few 23.8%weresingle and 2.5% of the respondents were divorced/separated, 1.3% widows. Majority (86.9%) of respondents attained tertiary level of education, few (11.9%) had secondary school qualification and 1.2% had primary school qualification. Majority(94.9%) were Christians while few (5.1%) were Muslims and others (pagans)(1.3%).Ninety-six percent(96%)liked eating vegetables, majority (56.9%) consumed their vegetables mainly in soups compared to other sources. Few (20%) sliced their vegetables before washing while 78.8% wash before slicing. However 12.9%of the respondents forbid vegetables due to their culture while majority (93.8%) do not. Majority (98.1%) had a good nutritional knowledge about the benefits of vegetables consumption. Ninety-eight percent (98%) have heard about the nutritional benefits of vegetables from various sources. Majority (92.5%) knew the definition of vegetables, 80.6% had a good knowledge about the major nutrient present in vegetables, 96.3% showed that they had good knowledge about the right color of a healthy leafy vegetable which is dark green. Very few (6.9%) among the respondents had poor knowledge concerning the major function of vegetables in our daily meals. This study depicts that majority of the respondents working in the state secretariats’ had a good knowledge, attitude and vegetable consumption pattern.