Nutritional Health Problems in Nigerian Adolescents Attributable to Availability of Foods and Feeding Culture in Nigeria.

Abstract

This study investigated the Nutritional Problems in Nigerian adolescents attributable to availability of foods and feeding culture in Nigeria. The study was conducted using a descriptive survey research method. A total of 400 senior secondary schools in Yagba West and Yagba East Local Government Areas of Kogi State using stratified and purposive simple random techniques. A 16 item self designed questionnaire tagged NHPNAAAFFCNQ was used to illicit information from the respondents. Five null hypothesis were generated and tested at 05 alpha level. The items were analyzed using chi-square analysis. The results revealed that. (i) adolescent students eat mainly carbohydrate foods because it is mainly available. this accounts for high rate of kwashiorkor among the secondary school students; (ii) parents sparingly encourage adolescents in secondary schools in the consumption of proteinous food because protein especially beans is for idol worship in their locality. (iii) also people eat mainly crops that are grown and in their locality. Therefore, it was recommended that seminars, lectures and symposium be organized for parents and adolescent students in secondary schools on the need to eat balanced die. Also. the government at every level should pay its stafl well so as to be able to feed well.