PATTERN OF CONSUMPTION OF SOFT DRINKS AND PERCEPTION OF VULNERABILITY TO NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AMONG STUDENTS OF POLYTECHNIC IBADAN, OYO STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

Popularity and consumption of soft drinks (SDs) that contain empty calorie due to high sugar contents has been increasing steadily due to strong palatable sweet taste. It is one of the critical issues in dietary transition in spite of the associated adverse health implications. There is a dearth of research on perceived health consequences of soft drinks consumption among young people. Hence, this study was aimed at investigating pattern of consumption of (SDs) and perception of vulnerability to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among students of The Polytechnic Ibadan. This study employed a cross-sectional study design using a four-stage sampling technique in selecting 423 respondents from hall of residence in The Polytechnics consisting 199 out of 1021 females and 224 out of 1147 males, respectively. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on SDs and perception of vulnerability to NCDs and observational checklist was also used to assess soft drink outlets in the four hall of residence. Knowledge of causes of NCDs were measured on a 12-point scale; score >6 was categorised as good and knowledge of health implications of SDs were measured on a 9-point scale; score >5 was categorised as good. Perception of health implication of SDs consumption was measured on 9-point scale; scores >5 was categorised as good. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) at p=0.05 level of significance. Age of respondents was 23.1±3.3 years and 53.0% were males. Large percentages (96.0%) of respondents were single and their levels of study ranged from ND1 to HND2. Few of the respondents (39.0%) did collect pocket money weekly; monthly (38.3%) and daily (22.7%). More than half (53.0%) of respondents consumed one bottle of 50cl of soft drink daily on average. Majority (76.4%) claimed to have easy access to SDs. About (65.0%) respondents had poor knowledge of the causes of NCDs. Majority of respondents (60.0%) had good knowledge of health implication of SDs. Majority of respondents (69.3%) had poor perception about SDs consumption. Many of respondents (59.3%) believed sweetness of SDs make them to consume it. Majority of respondents (77.1%) said SDs were easy available in many retail shops in the school. About (77.1%) of respondents were of the view that different sales promotion on SDs like free airtime on bottle cover encouraged them to consume more. Soft drink outlets are present

in three out of four halls of residence and there is easy access to soft drinks in all the halls. Frequency of collecting pocket money was significantly associated with pattern of consumption of SDs, accessibility was significantly associated with pattern of consumption of SDs and perception of SDs was significantly associated with pattern of consumption of SDs. There were gaps in knowledge about NCDs, knowledge of health implication of SDs was good and perception of SDs was poor. Use of educational campaigns and behavioural change communication (BCC) materials would be useful in addressing various identified misconceptions that encourage excessive SDs consumption.