Current dietary intake and eating habits in connection with socio-demographic characteristics of students of Nangui Abrogoua University of Côte d’Ivoire

ABSTRACT

The socio-demographic features and eating pattern were assessed on 156 Ivorian students (18-34 years) from Nangui Abrogoua University. The study population was made of randomly selected students who were willing to participate to the survey. The semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on breakfast, lunch, and dinner consumption pattern and 24-h dietary recall to document the dietary intake. Results showed that 88% of the respondents were not used to having breakfast, while 87.70% and 94.80% would have lunch and dinner, respectively. 33.30% of the respondents claimed financial problems as a reason for skipping meals. 82% of the respondents do daily physical activity for a minimum of 30 min three times a week. 25.69% of the students with bad nutritional status including 17.95% being underweight and 7.74% overweight to the extent of obesity. Rice and “Attiéké” (cassava semolina) were the favorite foods during the three daily meals.

KEYWORDS:

• Breakfast
• eating habits
• lunch
• Nangui Abrogoua University
• students

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the authorities of Nangui Abrogoua University who give the authorization to do this study, the university health center, and the university canteen and also to all the students who took part in the study.