Knowledge of Health Benefits, Attitude and Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables Among Undergraduate Teacher Trainees in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Healthy nutrition behaviour, especially fruits and vegetables consumption has been regarded as crucial factor in preventing some diseases. Fruits and vegetables are an important component of a healthy diet and, if consumed daily in sufficient amounts, could help prevent major diseases and certain cancer. Several studies have been done on pre-service teachers but little research attention has been directed towards consumption of fruits and vegetables, therefore, this study focused on knowledge of health benefits, attitude and consumption of fruits and vegetables among pre-service teachers in Southwestern, Nigeria. three hundred (300) respondents were randomly selected. KHBFVC (r=0.78), ATFVC (r=0.81) and FVC (r= 0.77) scales were used as instrument for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi- square and Pearson Product Moment Correlationt at 0.05 level of significance. Respondents mean age was 21.81 ±2.30 years. There was no significant knowledge of health benefits (X2cal= 33.01, X2crit= 40.123, df= 27), attitude (X2cal= 41.37, X2crit= 43.773, df= 30) and consumption (X2cal= 23.96, X2crit= 32.671, df= 21) of fruits and vegetable among pre-service teachers. There was significant relationship between knowledge of health benefits and attitude (r=.726), knowledge and consumption (r=.501) attitude and consumption (r=.627). It was concluded that there was no significant knowledge of health benefits of consumption of fruits and vegetables among pre-service teachers in southwestern, Nigeria. Pre-service teachers should be educated on health benefits of fruits and vegetable consumption which may lead to reduction in mortality and morbidity as associated with inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables. Hence, the need for nutrition education that will include fruits and vegetable consumption as part of general education studies (GES) in Universities in Southwestern Nigeria.