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Pakistan Journal of Nutrition

Year: 2006 | Volume: 5 | Issue: 4 | Page No.: 308-311
DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2006.308.311
Nutrition Knowledge and Food Choices of Primary School Pupils in the Niger – Delta Region Nigeria
L. O. Eboh and T. E. Boye

Abstract: The study investigated the effect of a 3 – week school based nutrition education programme on nutrition knowledge and healthy food choices of 197 primary six pupils (197 sixth grades) randomly divided into a control (n = 102) or an experimental group (n = 95). The control group received no nutrition education while the experimental group received 40 minutes of nutrition education, 4 days a week for 3 weeks nutrition knowledge scores and 3 day food records were collected at the beginning of the study and after 3 weeks. Food records were used to evaluate healthy food choices (i.e Dietary Guideline`s recommended intake for macronutrients and the recommendations of the Food Guide Pyramid for each food group). In the experimental group three was significantly greater increase in nutrition knowledge score (p = 0.001) and significantly change in compliance in meeting the Dietary Guidelines (p = 0.0001) and the Food Guide Pyramid`s recommendations (p = 0.0001). This study showed the effectiveness of a nutrition education programme on nutrition knowledge scores and healthy primary six pupils (children in sixth grade).

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How to cite this article
L. O. Eboh and T. E. Boye, 2006. Nutrition Knowledge and Food Choices of Primary School Pupils in the Niger – Delta Region Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 5: 308-311.

Keywords: Dietary habits nutrition intervention, malnutrition and healthy food choices

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