DETERMINANTS OF DIETARY HABITS AMONG JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OBIO/AKPOR LGA, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlates of dietary practices of junior secondary school students in Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State. Two objectives, two research questions, and two hypotheses were proposed. The literature was reviewed using three frameworks: conceptual, theoretical, and empirical. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. The study's target population was 30,756 junior secondary school students from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. A sample of 400 was drawn through a multi-staged sampling. Data was collected using researcher-developed questionnaire. The data was analysed using percentage and Point Biserial Correlation at 0.05 level of significance. The result reveals over half of the respondents 213(53.5%) had good dietary habit. In particular, 311(78.3%) of the students include salad when it is served, 271(68.3%) eat vegetables with their meals, 330(83.1%) eat breakfast daily and 211(53.1%) eat white bread, rather than wholemeal or brown bread. Statistically significant relationship was found between dietary habit and socioeconomic status (n = 397, r = 0.64, p = 0.00), social media marketing (n = 397, r = 0.26, p = 0.00), and cultural norms (n = 397, r = 0.40, p = 0.00). It was found that, the dietary habit of Junior secondary school students in Obio/akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State was good and the factors affecting it were: socio-economic status, social media marketing, family size and cultural practices It was recommended, among other things, that parents should try to ensure that they teach their children healthy eating habit by providing healthy foods to their children. In addition, the parents/guardians should monitor the dietary habit of their children/wards by making sure they eat healthy foods.