Abstract

This study examined nutritional knowledge and dietary practices among public secondary school students in Edo State, Nigeria. The study was guided by four objectives: to determine the level of nutritional knowledge among students, examine their dietary practices, determine the relationship between nutritional knowledge and dietary practices, and assess gender differences in dietary practices. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised public secondary school students in Edo State, while a sample size of 300 students was selected using appropriate sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Nutritional Knowledge and Dietary Practices Questionnaire (NKDPQ). The instrument was validated by experts, and its reliability was established before administration. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, standard deviations, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), and Independent Samples t-test at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that students possessed a high level of nutritional knowledge with a grand mean of 4.08. The study also showed that students generally practiced healthy dietary behaviours, with a grand mean of 3.53. Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis indicated a significant positive relationship between nutritional knowledge and dietary practices (r = 0.642, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the Independent Samples t-test revealed a significant difference in dietary practices between male and female students (t = -2.95, p = 0.003), with female students demonstrating healthier dietary practices. The study concluded that nutritional knowledge significantly influences dietary practices among secondary school students.