Nutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices on consumption of fruits and vegetables on female University students 18-30years: Case study: Makerere University students.

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables maintain good health and energy levels and protect the body against aging. They help reduce the risk of cancers and many non-communicable diseases by combating oxidative stress. Females of the reproductive age are at a risk of micronutrient deficiencies of which fruits and vegetables contain those critical micronutrients for their reproductive health, energy requirements and optimal health for their pre conception age. This research was conducted to assess the Nutritional KAP of fruit and vegetable consumption on females of the reproductive age 18-30 at Makerere University. A cross sectional study was conducted and data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire administered online to female university students. The diversity and levels of fruit and vegetable consumption was assessed and the questionnaire also had a section assessing Nutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices. The data was collected from a sample of 95 students and analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 25 and Microsoft Excel software to obtain graphs and summaries. Regarding the Nutritional practices, the fruits and vegetables consumed mostly were mangoes, pineapples and oranges, then cabbage, Nakati and dodo. Most of the students reported to be taking a fruit or a vegetable once a day 57(60%) which doesn't meet the USDA recommendations of any of them. Majority of the students had knowledge on the health benefits of consumption of fruits and vegetables 72.6% (69) but most of them took the fruits and vegetables when they have appetite for them, not due to their health benefits. Most students had a positive attitude towards consumption of fruits and vegetables whose preference to other foods was assessed on the liket scale where most of them were found to like them, 36.8%(35) and there was a weak negative correlation and a non-significant relationship between nutrition knowledge and number of fruits consumed in a day, r=-0.120, p=0.305. There is a low consumption of fruits and vegetables among female university students even though they have good knowledge about the health benefits and a good attitude towards eating them, more Nutrition education needs to be done so that these students incorporate fruits and vegetables into their day today activities.