Knowledge about relationship of diets with non-communicable disease and prospects for amelioration by consuming mushrooms in South-East Nigeria.

Background: Knowledge plays a key role in shaping people's attitudes and behaviors to adopt healthy lifestyles, which is important in any program of NCD prevention. There is no data about how much the general public in South-East Nigeria (SE) knows about how their diets may dispose or help them prevent NCDs. Aim: This study aims to assess knowledge available on the relationship between NCDs and diets/foods including mushrooms among the general public of SE Nigeria. Methods: Data was collected using the survey questionnaire and interview method in the five SE States: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. Simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. Results: A total of 846 responses were received from 1000 questionnaires. Proportion of respondents who knew (p^_yes) about a relationship between diets and NCDs was 51.5%. p^_yes was significantly higher among males than females and increased with age and level of education of respondents. It also varied among the States of SE Nigeria. Knowledge scores based on a scale of 0-5 revealed that respondents knew more about foods, which can reduce (2.3 ± 0.102) e.g., fruits/vegetables, than can increase (1.9 ± 0.096) e.g., sugary/starchy foods, the risk of NCDs. Varying proportions of respondents in all States of the SE knew that mushroom consumption can ameliorate NCDs. Conclusion: This study reveals that half of population of SE Nigeria knows about the relationship between diets and NCDs. A significant proportion also knows that mushroom consumption can ameliorate NCDs suggesting prospects of its utilization in preventing NCDs.