ASSESSMENT OF DIET QUALITY OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN RESIDING WITHIN AGBOWO COMMUNITY IN RELATION TO THEIR FOOD ENVIRONMENT
- Project Research
- 1-5 Chapters
- Quantitative
- Simple Percentage
- Abstract : Available
- Table of Content: Available
- Reference Style: Available
- Recommended for : Student Researchers
- NGN 3000
Background of the study
The eating patterns and nutritional condition of college students are crucial since they have a substantial impact on their general health, well-being, and academic achievement. The University of Ibadan is well recognised for its exceptional academic standards and is home to a heterogeneous student body within its campus community. Within this group of students, those who live in the Agbowo village form a unique group whose eating habits may be affected by many aspects associated with their nearby food surroundings (Chinyoka and Naidu, 2019).
It is essential to comprehend the dietary level of undergraduate students living in the Agbowo community for several reasons. The period of transitioning from adolescent to early adulthood, which aligns with the university years, often entails notable changes in lifestyle and eating patterns. Food choices and consumption habits among students might be influenced by several factors, including heightened autonomy, time limitations, and budgetary limits. Furthermore, the university setting, distinguished by a distinctive combination of academic demands, social engagements, and extracurricular pursuits, offers both prospects and difficulties in relation to eating habits (Chinyoka and Naidu, 2019).
Furthermore, the Agbowo community, characterised by its varied gastronomic environment consisting of restaurants, food sellers, and marketplaces, significantly influences the food preferences and availability of students.There is a lack of study explicitly investigating the dietary habits of undergraduate students at the University of Ibadan, especially those living in the Agbowo neighbourhood, despite the significant impact of food quality on student health and academic performance. Previous research often focuses on overarching dietary patterns or particular health consequences, neglecting the complex interaction between individual dietary decisions and the surrounding food milieu.
Based on the findings of the EFA Global Monitoring Report (UNESCO 2022), it is evident that a significant proportion of children in sub-Saharan Africa, namely over 25%, experience underweight conditions due to inadequate dietary intake and malnutrition. This makes individuals more vulnerable to illness and diminishes their ability to concentrate in an academic setting. According to Ecker and Nene (2020), malnutrition is a chronic disorder that arises from either an excessive or inadequate consumption of essential macro or micro nutrients according to an individual's physiological and pathological requirements.Insufficient dietary intake is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body lacks appropriate quantities of essential nutrients required for optimal physiological functioning. Insufficient food intake or an uneven dietary pattern characterised by deficiencies in one or more essential elements may both be factors that lead to suboptimal nutritional status (Chinyoka & Naidu, 2019).
Nabarro et al. (2017) suggest that students who fail to meet the recommended daily intake of vital minerals, including calcium, potassium, and vitamin C, may have limitations in their academic performance. Connell (2016) conducted a study which revealed that a mere 14 percent of children born with a normal weight exhibited comparable outcomes to their counterparts born with a low birth weight. Furthermore, it was observed that 34 percent of children born with a low birth weight were required to repeat grades or be assigned to special education classrooms.
Duncan et al. (2018) found that low birth weight resulting from insufficient nutrition may be a contributing factor to higher rates of grade repeat. Families may enhance their capacity to provide adequate nutrition for their children by acquiring a more comprehensive comprehension of the potential impact of nutritional deficiencies on academic performance.
This finding illustrates the paramount importance of adequate nutrition in relation to the scholastic achievement of seventh-grade pupils. Shrestha and Pathak (2021) and Brauw et al. (2017) have posited that the prevailing belief in the past was that underfeeding in children was solely accountable for inducing lasting structural harm to the brain, hence hindering cognitive development. The brain experiences rapid growth throughout the first three years of a child's existence. This phenomenon is distinguished by the generation of neurons, the process of synaptogenesis, the growth of axons and dendrites, and the pruning of synapses. According to Orazem et al. (2017), each of these steps is dependent on the preceding one.
The occurrence of any disruption in this physiological process, such as trauma, stress, undernutrition, or dietary deficiencies, might potentially result in enduring consequences not just for the brain's structure, but also for the child's social-emotional development and scholastic achievements. Hence, empirical research has shown that childhood malnutrition may have an adverse influence on an individual's cognitive advancement throughout their adult years (Lacour & Tissington, 2019). Based on the aforementioned evidence, it is evident that children across all age groups should be safeguarded from malnutrition due to its detrimental effects on their academic achievements and holistic growth. Therefore this study assess diet quality of undergraduate students of the University of Ibadan residing within Agbowo community in relation to their food environment
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Statement of the problem
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Despite the considerable dedication demonstrated within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other related endeavours, it is probable that a significant proportion of developing nations, Nigeria included, will encounter challenges in attaining their dietary objectives. This is primarily due to the considerable disparity observed in the nutritional accomplishments across different countries (Stevens et al., 2021).
The eating patterns shown by undergraduate students have a significant impact on their general well-being and scholastic achievements. The current state of knowledge about the dietary quality among undergraduate students, specifically within the University of Ibadan, is limited (Stevens et al., 2021). In light of the increasing apprehensions around health problems connected to nutrition, including obesity, malnutrition, and related non-communicable illnesses, there exists a dearth of research that specifically examines the food habits and nutritional status of this particular demographic.
The objective of this study is to examine and evaluate the dietary quality of undergraduate students at The University of Ibadan. This investigation will take into account several factors, including dietary diversity, nutrient intake, meal choices, eating behaviours, socio-demographic variables regarding their food environment, and the potential effects of these factors on health outcomes. Hence, the need to assess diet quality of undergraduate students of The University of Ibadan residing within Agbowo community.
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