PREVALENCE, PATTERN AND DETERMINANTS OF FAST FOOD CONSUMPTION AMONG SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN IN JOS METROPOLIS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA: AN IMPLICATION FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION

Motivation/Background: In 2001, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 60 percent of 56 million deaths worldwide and 47% of global burden of disease. In all countries, evidence suggested underlying determinants of NCDs were largely same. These include increased consumption of rapidly processed energy-dense nutrient-poor foods high in fat, sugar, salt and reduced levels of physical activity. The objective of this study was to determine prevalence, pattern and determinants of fast foods consumption among school age children in Jos metropolis. Method: In this study, we used descriptive cross-sectional study and included 347 mothers or care givers with children age 6 to 12 years in our sample size. We applied structured intervieweradministered questionnaire during data collection and analyzed the data with SPSS version 21.0. Results: Prevalence of fast food consumption among school age children in Jos metropolis in the last one week is 91.1%. Knowledge of health risk associated with fast food consumption was 86.5%. Flour based fast food were most commonly consumed. We established an association between meal skipping, fast food advertisement and fast food consumption. Conclusions: We recommend the need to focus public enlightenment on health risk associated with fast food consumption among school age children. Likewise, children should be encouraged to carry home-made food to school and legislation on fast food advertisement directed at children should be enacted.