INFLUENCE OF MOTHER'S NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ON DIETARY INTAKE OF JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ASABA METROPOLIS OF DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated mothers’ nutritional knowledge on dietary intakes of junior secondary school students in Asaba metropolis of Delta State. Three research questions and a null hypothesis guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised mothers of junior secondary school students in Asaba metropolis. The sample of this study was 105 mothers drawn through purposive random sampling technique from five public junior secondary schools in Asaba metropolis of Delta State. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire constructed by the researcher and titled Mother's Nutritional Knowledge on Dietary Intake of Students Questionnaire (MNKDISQ). The instrument was validated by two experts. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.71 using Cronbach Alpha technique. The data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and Pearson product moment correlation. The null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance using Pearson product moment correlation statistics. The findings revealed that mothers in Asaba metropolis to a high extent have nutritional knowledge, the extent of dietary intake of Junior secondary school students in Asaba metropolis is high, there is a positive high relationship between mothers’ nutritional knowledge and dietary intake of junior secondary school students in Asaba metropolis, and the relationship between mothers’ nutritional knowledge and dietary intake of junior secondary school students in Asaba metropolis is significant. Based on the findings, It was recommended among others that mothers should always endeavor to acquire nutritional knowledge which will enable them ensure that their children have a better nutrition throughout their growing stage. Mothers should ensure that their children avoid junk foods at all cost as this will help them stay healthy and sound.