Perception of a healthy diet (PHD): a survey among fourth form secondary school students in Trinidad

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the percentage of students with the correct perception of a healthy diet and to ascertain determinants of students' perceptions. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 795 randomly chosen secondary schools throughout Trinidad was conducted over two weeks. Students who completed all six sections of a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire with at least 50 percent correct response in each section were deemed to have the correct perception of a healthy diet. RESULTS: 165 (21.1 percent) students had the correct perception of a healthy diet. More females (102,23.9 percent) than males (63, 17.79 percent; p=0.036) gave correct responses. A significantly higher proportion of students from Government schools (30.8 percent vs 19.6 percent, p=0.008). Concerning "Healthy Choices", 87.3 percent of students passed whereas the "Dietary Beliefs" section had the lowest pass rate of 30.8 percent. Of the 676 students who reported being exposed to nutritional information, 153 (22.64 percent) had the correct perception. However, 11.3 percent of the students who reported no previous exposure to such information passed (p=0.008). Religion, ethnicity and family history of chronic disease had no significant influence on students' perception. CONCLUSION: The majority of students sampled had an incorrect perception of a healthy diet. Perception varied with gender, exposure to nutritional information, type and geographic location of school attended.(Au)