Knowledge of adequate diet among nursing students at Achievers University, Owo, Nigeria

Abstract

Context: A well-rounded and nutritionally balanced diet forms a foundational pillar of a healthy lifestyle, underscoring the pivotal role of sound nutrition. Studies have indicated a prevalence of malnutrition among student nurses, yet the underlying factors contributing to this prevalent issue remain to be fully elucidated. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the depth of knowledge concerning an appropriate diet among nursing students enrolled at Achievers University, situated in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: From August 2022 to September 2022, a descriptive cross-sectional investigation was conducted, employing a Purposive sampling technique to ascertain a representative sample size of 307 participants. A carefully crafted and validated questionnaire was used for data collection, and tables, percentages, and Chi-square analysis were all used in the analysis to assess the level of statistical significance. A P-value of less than 0.05 was designated as indicative of statistical significance. Results: The study’s findings indicated that a significant proportion of participants (96.4%) agreed regarding the beneficial effects of consuming more than three meals daily for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, all participants clearly understood the significance of maintaining a healthy diet. Notably, a considerable majority (89.6%) exhibited a commendable grasp of proper nutritional principles, while 3.6% demonstrated lower levels of understanding. Regarding participants’ weight status, the distribution was as follows: 50.8% were categorized as having an average weight, 36.2% fell into the overweight category, 10.1% were classified as obese, and 2.9% were underweight. The analysis of collected data yielded a noteworthy observation. Such as, it shows that there is no statistically significant correlation was found between the participants’ knowledge of sufficient nutrition and the practical implementation of this knowledge (χ2 = 11.550, P = 0.072). Conclusion: In this study, nursing students who took part deeply understood a balanced diet, but this did not translate into the practice of an adequate diet. As a result, it is necessary to use other methods to encourage student nurses to practice good nutrition.