Department of Community Health and Primary Care

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Browsing Department of Community Health and Primary Care by Subject "adequacy"

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    Open Access
    Knowledge of fruits and vegetables, consumption pattern and associated factors among adults in Lagos State, Nigeria
    (2018) Olatona, F.A.; Sosanya, A; Sholeye, O.O.; Obrutu, O.E.; Nnoaham, K.E.
    Objective: Low fruit and vegetable consumption is a major global risk factor for morbidity (associated with micronutrient deficiencies) and premature mortality; meanwhile, little is known about the adequacy and consumption pattern in Lagos, Nigeria. This study, therefore, determined knowledge, patterns, adequacy, and factors associated with fruits and vegetable consumption among adults in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that employed a multistage sampling method to select 330 adults from one local government area in Lagos State. Data was collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Questions on knowledge were scored and the total obtainable score was 13. The percentage of the score obtained out of the total obtainable score (13) was used in grading the level of knowledge. Adequacy of fruit and vegetable intake was regarded as consuming an average of at least five (5) servings of fruits and vegetables per day within the previous one week before the study. Data were analyzed using Epi info version 7 and Chi-square was used to determine associations between categorical variables. Results: The majority of the respondents were males (60.6%), between age 19 to 38 years (69.4%), and had at least secondary school education (93%). Only 24.9% of respondents had a 'good' level of knowledge while 27.0% consumed an 'adequate' amount of fruits and vegetables. Orange and pumpkin were the most frequently consumed fruit and vegetable respectively. Educational status, income, female gender, and marriage were associated with adequate intake of fruits and vegetables (p<0.05). Conclusion: Knowledge and prevalence of adequate intake of fruits and vegetables were low especially among young unmarried men who are of low socioeconomic status in Lagos. Orange and pumpkin were the most frequently consumed fruit and vegetable. Efforts to increase public awareness about fruits and vegetables should be targeted towards younger unmarried males of low socioeconomic status.