ABSTRACT
This study evaluates
the eating patterns among nursing students in Ambrose AlliUniverstiy Ekpoma,
Edo State. A descriptive survey design was used, this study will be of immense
benefit to the general public and all health workers, especially the nurses and
a total of using 319 respondent who were randomly selected from the total
number of five hundred and seventy four (574) for this present study. Research
question which include what are the types of food consumed by nursing students
in Ambrose Alli University, how often do the nursing students eat per day ,
which type of food do students eat most and Is there any abnormal eating habit
among nursing students will answered in this study, in which research findings
recorded showed that 118(37%) eat carbohydrate, followed by those who eat twice
with 111(35%). With the lowest been eating once with 31(9%). It also revealed
that most students 118(37%) eat three square meals, others eat twice or once
daily while majority 55(17.5%) eat more than twice daily. It was also observed
that most students have poor eating habit by taking junks as breakfast. It is
therefore recommended that nursing students should have nutritional plans in
order to obtain the appropriate and necessary nutrition to remain healthy, to
be physically prepared and to lead a healthy life. For this reason, to promote
the health level of a society, the attitudes of its people, must be taken into
account. The instrument used for this study was the questionnaire which was
valid and reliable in frequency and numbers.
CHAPTER ONE
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Most
of the fundamental health problems afflicting the contemporary world are
cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes and obesity; these being prime examples
of non-communicable diseases. Some of the well recognized steps to take to
reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease are to acquire appropriate dietary
habits and a sufficient level of physical exercise. Rather than an increase in
the consumption of animal products and low intake of fruits and vegetables
referred to as ‘Western diet’, the healthy ‘Mediterranean diet’ that involves
high intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, cereal products, small quantities of
animal derived foods and low amounts of unsaturated fatty acids (especially the
trans types), cholesterol, sugar, sweets and salt is prescribed as an
appropriate dietary model (Wirginia, Daniela, Grzegorz, malgorzata, Benta,
2013). Changes in eating habits, lack of physical activity and sedentary life
have significantly contributed to the increase of various diseases, mainly
diabetes mellitus, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. According to World
Health Organization (WHO) estimates for 2008, over 50% of both men and women in
the WHO European region were overweight, and roughly 23% of women and 20% of
men were obese. Based on the latest estimates in European Union countries,
overweight affects 30 – 70% and obesity affects 10 – 30% of adults (Eleni,
Eugeni, Maria, Loannis, Evangelos, Kyritsi, 2014). It has been perceived that
developing countries like India
are encountering dual burden of under-nutrition and overnutrition (Chhabra,
Grover, Agrawal, Kannan, 2006). Obesity itself leads to cardiovascular disease,
high blood pressure, an increase in blood cholesterol and diabetes (Amamoto,
Dozono, Toyama ,
2004). The main goal of nutrition plans is to obtain the appropriate and
necessary nutrition to remain healthy, to be physically prepared and to lead a
healthy life. For this reason, to promote the health level of a society, the
attitudes of its people, must be taken into account. Given that one of the main
goals of universities is to broaden the knowledge of the people in a society,
the enhancement of the nutrition attitudes, knowledge and practices of its
students is of high importance, as this will subsequently lead to a more food
conscious society and more healthy people. Some studies have shown that most
students are not familiar with the healthy foods needed for their body` in
different conditions (Cotugna, Connie, Vickery & Sheldon, 2005). Ruka’s
research showed that the majority of students (83.6%) ate three meals during
the day regularly and no difference was found between men and women (Ruka, Toyama , Anamoto, Lio
& Shinfuku, 2005). O’Dea showed that 85% of men and 87% of women, who are
overweight, decide to go on a diet to lose weight; also13% of men and 20% of
women refuse to eat breakfast. He also reported that students do not have the
necessary information and training regarding weight control, nutrition needs
and diets (O’Dea & Abraham, 2001). The obesity epidemic in America
continues to grow. In order to obtain data concerning the overall health of
both children and adults in the United States (US) the National Center United States . The survey is unique
in that it combines interviews and physical examinations. According to the
NHANES 2011- 2012 survey, the proportion of the obese US adults was 35.1% and those
considered to be extremely obese was 6.4% ( Fryar, Carroll & Ogden, 2014).
It was also found that an estimated 33.9% of adults were considered to be
overweight. Furthermore, the data from the NHANES 2011-2012 survey indicated
that an estimated 16.9% of children and adolescents age 2-19 are obese, and
another 14.9% are overweight. One researcher, Dr. Jeffrey Jensen Arnett (2000)
classifies the ages of 18-25 as “emerging adulthood”. He describes this age
demographic as a time where young people transition from adolescence to
adulthood and begin developing views and behaviors, which will carry into
adulthood. During this time, the development of self-identity, changing support
systems, and the shifting of interpersonal influences occur and set this life
stage apart from adolescence and adulthood (Nelson, Story, Larson,
Neumark-Sztainer & Lytle, 2008). Nelson et al. shared Dr. Arnnet’s
assessment of this particular population, suggesting that the college years
have often been considered a time of “optimal health and well-being”. However,
there appears to be a limited amount of data that is collected about this
population. According to the CDC, obesity levels were lowest among college
graduates, 22.1% for men and 17.9% for females (Galuska, Gillespie, Kuester,
Mokdad, Cogswell & Philip, 2008). It was also found that for men, those who
attended some college had the highest percentage of obesity, at 29.5%. However,
this does not give one a snap shot of the current population of those attending
college. Research on this extremely diverse population is needed and will
ultimately allow for colleges and universities to develop programs to combat
the often referred to as “freshman fifteen” weight gain, and educate this
population about healthy eating and exercise patterns. Specific knowledge
gained about this population will allow for the tailoring of health education
programs to the specific problem areas identified by college students.
In conclusion,
taking into consideration this background, special attention should be paid to
university students including nursing students, as a group particularly prone
to poor dietary habits.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Poor nutrition and obesity are among the most
important health issues facing society today, not only in terms of health, but
also health care expenses (Goel, 2006; Rashad & Grossman, 2004). There are
a variety of predictors of obesity including genetics, physical activity, and
food consumption (Goel, 2006). There are other outcomes of food choice and
nutrition that also have an independent effect on health including some types
of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes (Nicklas, Baranowski,
Baranowski, Cullen, Rittenberry, & Olvera, 2001). For these reasons, food
selection is an important consumer behavior with many long-term consequences to
the individual in the form of health and longevity and to society in the form
of health costs. Food selection also goes a long way to determine the dietary
habits developed by most college students. Some research has shown that the
most important factors predicting food selection among adults are: taste, cost,
nutrition, convenience, pleasure, and weight control, in that order (Glanz,
Basil, Maibach, Goldberg, & Snyder, 1998). Many studies have shown that
people often establish these tastes and habits while they are relatively young
(Birch, 1999). Evidence suggests early establishment of habits and preferences
occurs for a variety of behaviors including media use (Basil, 1990) and music
listening (Holbrook & Schindler, 1994), as well as food choice (Birch,
1999). Therefore it is advisable to begin stablishing good eating habits when
people are as young as possible. Importantly, however, for the very young, many
food decisions are controlled by parents and preschools (Nicklas et al., 2001).
Therefore, food choice for the youngest age groups may be constrained by a
number of factors. An especially important time of life for food choice is when
people step out independently for the first time and begin to make all of their
own food decisions.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
- To determine the types of food consumed by nursing students in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
- To estimate the eating pattern amongst nursing students in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
- To identify abnormal eating habit among the nursing students
- To determine the food preference of Nursing students.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- What are the types of food consumed by nursing students in Ambrose Alli University?
- How often do the nursing students eat per day ?
- Which type of food do students eat most?
- Is there any abnormal eating habit among nursing students?
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H0: The
recent dietary habits of nursing students do not contribute to the improvement
of their health.
SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
This study will be of immense
benefit to the general public and all health workers, especially the nurses. It
would contribute effectively towards enhancing better dietary habits. It will
also reduce to the barest minimum, diseases and risks associated with inappropriate
dietary habit.
SCOPE OF STUDY
The
study is delimited to the nursing students in the Department of Nursing sciences,
College of medical sciences Ambrose Alli University.
LIMITATION OF STUDY
Difficulty in getting nursing
students to readily answer research questions due to their busy schedule and reluctance.
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Diet: This is a person’s regularly
consumed food and drink.
Dietary: A regulated daily food
allowance.
Eating habit: This is the way a person or group eats, considered in terms of what
types of food are eaten, in what quantities and when.
Malnutrition: A term used to refer to
any condition in which the body does not receive enough nutrients for proper
functioning.
Undernutrition: Inadequate nutrition
resulting from lack of food or failure of the body to absorb or assimilate
nutrients properly.
================================================================
Item Type: Project Material | Attribute: 68 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Price: N3,000 | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
================================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment