Fetohy, E., Mahboub, S., Abusaleh, H. (2020). The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior about Healthy Dietary Habits among Adolescent Females. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 50(2), 106-112. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2020.109034
Ebtisam M. Fetohy; Samira M. Mahboub; Howeida H. Abusaleh. "The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior about Healthy Dietary Habits among Adolescent Females". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 50, 2, 2020, 106-112. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2020.109034
Fetohy, E., Mahboub, S., Abusaleh, H. (2020). 'The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior about Healthy Dietary Habits among Adolescent Females', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 50(2), pp. 106-112. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2020.109034
Fetohy, E., Mahboub, S., Abusaleh, H. The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior about Healthy Dietary Habits among Adolescent Females. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 2020; 50(2): 106-112. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2020.109034
The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior about Healthy Dietary Habits among Adolescent Females
1Health Administration and Behavioral Sciences Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
2Health Sciences Department, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Background: Dietary patterns are influenced by behavioral factors in early adulthood. Nutritional education has a major role in improving health status of adolescents. Objective: This study aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and behavior about healthy dietary habits among adolescent females before and after a nutrition education program in Riyadh, KSA. Methods: An intervention study was conducted in two schools among 105 students (57 from intermediate school and 48 from high school). Nutrition-related knowledge, attitude and behavior were assessed pre-intervention and one week post-intervention using the same instrument. The nutrition education program consisted of three sessions This study was approved by Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. Results: After the intervention, there was significant improvement in students’ attitude (from 21.6±5.4 to 23.7 ± 3.2) and behavior towards healthy dietary habits (from 48±12.1 to 51.5 ± 7.2) with a P-value of 0.02 and 0.006 respectively. Knowledge score did not improve after the intervention. There was a significant decrease in the total barrier score from 12.2 ± 2.7 to 11.2 ± 2.7 with a p-value of 0.01, and significant change in the consumption of daily breakfast, fresh food and whole grain (p-value 0.01, 0.05 & 0.02 respectively) and in checking expiry date of food (p-value 0.03) The Avoidance of fatty meals also improved significantly (p-value 0.03) . Conclusion: This nutrition education program was effective in improving adolescents’ attitude and behavior in relation to healthy diet.