SUGAR CONSUMPTION AMONG PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DUTSIN-MA TOWNSHIP, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed sugar consumption among private secondary school students in Dutsin-Ma Township Katsina State, Nigeria. Three hypotheses were tested in the study. Descriptive survey research design was used. The population of this study comprised 175 (junior and senior) students of the three existing private secondary schools in Dutsin-Ma. The entire student population was studied.  A self-constructed questionnaire with a four-point Likert scale was used to collect data. The instrument was validated by four health experts. Split-half method was used to determine the reliability of the questionnaire and a reliability coefficient of 0.67 was obtained. Data collected were analysed using frequency counts and percentage for rendering the demographic profile of the respondents and answering the first research question. The t-Test was used to test the stated hypotheses at level of 0.05. The study found that most of the students (58.29%) consume more artificial sugar than sugar obtained from natural sources. The study also found significant differences in sugar consumption between students in junior secondary classes and those in senior secondary in their consumption of sugar (p< 0.05). However, the study found no significant gender difference in the consumption of sugar among the students. Based on these findings, the study recommended a reduction in consumption of sugar by students particularly unwholesome foods such as biscuits and soft drinks rich in sugar.