knowledge, attitude and food practices related to iron rich foods ...

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND FOOD PRACTICES RELATED TO IRON
RICH FOODS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN ODEDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AREA OF OGUN STATE.
ADAMS, AFUSA T ANN
Matric numher: 03/0214
Submitted to the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta, Nigeria, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics
College of Agricultural Management, Rural Development and Consumer Studies.
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

The knowledge, attitude and food practices related to Iron rich foods among
adolescents was assessed. Five public schools were used out of ten public schools in
Oded a Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria, was used for the study.
A total of one hundred and forty one adolescents v,ere made the respondents for the
study in which one hundred and twenty were analyzable. Well structured and validated
questionnaires
were used in data collection.
Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics tools such as statistical package~ for
social sciences (SPSS) to analyze in frequency counts, percentages, mean and bar chart.
Data obtained indicated that 52.5% of the sampled respondents knew that iron is a trace
mineral. 69.17% of them do not know what iron implies. Many of the respondents
56.67% believed that rich sources of iron come from plant foods. And the average
mean of the pre-pubertal and pubertal adolescent were 16.80 mg and 16.57mg
respectively.
Data obtained also indicated that the food practices of the adolescents may continue to
adulthood because the highest percent 80.83% feeJ on rice more than once daily and
68.33% on garri more than once daily. Also highest percentage of snacks was
consumed than once daily and everyday intake. And they feed moderately on '·ruits and
vegetables while considerable percent of meat. poultry and dairy was consumed.
This study has revealed the need for nutritional intervention to educate and orientate
adolescents on the sources and functions of iron rich foods and the importance of
supplementation to prevent anemia in the future.