Assessment of high school learners' familiarity with nutrition education principles

The objective of the study was to assess adolescent learners' nutritional knowledge to suggest early intervention strategies that address knowledge deficiency gaps that have a negative impact on personal health and productivity.

A cross-sectional survey design was used in the study. One circuit was purposively selected from Pinetown District, KZN, South Africa. A representative sample of 108 learners was randomly selected from 7 of the 8 schools in the district to complete the investigator administered questionnaire between July and August 2017.

Although the majority of learners were familiar with the nutrition education principles, a large proportion lacked the knowledge of essential nutrition and were in support of the incorporation of various strategies to promote nutrition education. Friedman test revealed significant differences, χ² (3) = 192.4, p < 0.001, between the mean rank scores of familiarity to different nutrition principles. Relative to other principles, balanced diet and food groups were the most critical issues. The overall mean of 3.7 for learners' priority level on nutrition education principles indicated the learners' view that knowledge of all principles was necessary for the attainment of a healthy lifestyle.

Many learners were not familiar with nutrition education principles. Hence this paper becomes very critical as it communicates the information to the community and suggests various nutrition education intervention strategies that have to be put in place in the school system to impart the necessary knowledge and skills that promote a long-term healthy lifestyle for the learners.