ABSTRACT

This research work assessed food consumption, perception of school environment and selfefficacy to consume fruits among adolescents was carried out in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, data were collected with questionnaire distributed among selected adolescents. A sample size of, two hundred and fifty-one (251) adolescents were used. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Analysis of the result indicated that; majority 57.8% of the respondents were female, 53.8% were between 14 to 16 years old, little above half 53.0% of the respondents were in SSS1, 35.1% of their mothers are business women. Food consumption pattern of the adolescents revealed that; 60.2% of the respondents parents make food for them, 60.2% choice of food was made by their parents, 73.7% ate 3 times a day, 62.5% of their mother prepares the food at home, 57.8% skipped meals and 54.2% skipped lunch. Few 27.1% of the respondents strongly agreed that a large selection of fruits is available in the school environment, 17.5% agreed that the fresh fruits in their school environment are of high quality, 38.2% ate fruits once a week and majority 82.1% had eaten fruit in the past weeks. Most 68.5% of the respondents had some fruit after a long day and when they are feeling tired, 84.5% ate other fruits when their favourite ones are not available and 57.4% ate fruit as a part of their lunch most days in school. 27.1% of the respondents strongly agreed that a large selection of fruits was available in the school environment, 17.5% of the respondents agreed that fresh fruits in the school environment are of high quality, 47.8% of the respondents strongly agreed that the prices of fruits in the school environment affects the choices of fruit intakes. 88.4% of the respondents had a low self efficacy score which revealed that they appreciated and acknowledged the benefits of fruit eating habits but had limited confidence and efficacy to take actions and 11.4% had a high self efficacy score.In conclusion, behavioral interventions should also address factors in the child’s environment that may interfere with preference change and fruit consumption including developed preferences for highly marketed and palatable foods.