Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Habits And Prevalence Of Hypertension Among Undergraduate Students In Abia State University Uturu:- Ogbonna, Gladys A

ABSTRACT

The study examined nutrition knowledge, dietary habits and prevalence of hypertension among undergraduate students in Abia State University Uturu. Four hundred and thirty-one (431) respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was also used to determine their demographic, socio-economic status and dietary pattern. Food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the food consumption pattern and blood pressure levels were measured using a Fully Automatic Electronic Blood Pressure Monitor, Model - XI80. Results showed that 50.1% of the respondents were between 20-23 years while 3.9% were greater than 27 years with many (80.7%) ofthe respondents been single. Some (36.9%) ofthe respondents’ source of allowance was from parents while 18.1%. self-funded themselves. More than half (65.4%) of the respondents had family size of 4-6 persons. More than half (54.8%) of the respondents spend between N591 to N1000 on food daily while about (0.9%) spend above N2,000 on food. The study showed that more than half (57.7%) of the students had average nutrition knowledge, 47.1% of the respondents ate twice a day. More than half (52.6%) of the respondents skipped meals. Many (81.2%) of the respondents consumed cereal products < 3 times weekly. The result showed that 6% males and 2.6% females were prehypertensive. The study showed no recorded case of hypertension. Based on the findings, it was recommended the need for increased public health education on hypertension and it causes.