ABSTRACT

The present cross sectional study was conducted to find out the dietary habits and academic performance of adolescents, aged10-19 years in secondary schools in Bende Local Government Area, Abia State. A total of 303 students were selected using systematic sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-economic characteristics of the students, dietary habit and food frequency. Anthropometric indices of the secondary school students was collected and grouped using WHO anthro plus. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages, mean and standard deviation and chi-square. From the result, 37.0% were within the age of 14-16 years, 35% and 35.6% of their mothers and fathers were traders, 39.3% and 49.2% of their mothers and fathers completed their secondary school education, 35.3% earned N30,000-39,000 monthly. Only (38.9%) skipped meals of which 84.7% skipped breakfast because the food was usually not available (33.9%). Some (42.2%) consumed snacks twice a day all of them consumed one fruit and vegetable or the other. In their frequency of food consumption, all the food groups were mostly consumed two times and three times a week. Rice was mostly consumed by the students at breakfast (25.5%) and lunch (24.4%), while 53.1% consumed garri with different soups. However, 30.8% consumed biscuits before lunch and before dinner (52.7%). Prevalence of stunting, underweight and overweight were 16.8%, 10.6% and 6.9% among the students. Majority (75.2%) which comprised of 76.7% males and 74.1% females had poor academic performances. Significant difference was observed between the number of meals eaten a day (x2=8.976; p=0.030), frequency of snack consumption (x2=16.141; p=0.013) and their academic performances. Therefore, effort should be made to ensure that the children eat three times a day.