ABSTRACT

CONSUMPTION OF VEGETABLES AND THEIR NUTRITIONAL STATUS AMONG SELECTED COLLEGE OF HOME ECONOMICS STUDENTS IN WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY, ZAMBOANGA CITY By Calalimlaliman, Leah T. Gonzalez, Anne Luvin T. Padua, Ella Anne O. May 2011

Prof. Leah B. Santos Adviser

The study purported to answer the following questions:

1.) What is the demographical profile of the respondents in terms of: a. b. c. d. e. Age Educational Attainment of Parents Ethnicity Gender Course and Year level

2.) What are the common vegetables consumed and the frequency of consumption among CHE students? 3.) What are beneficial effects on the consumption of vegetables? 4.) What is the nutritional status of the CHE students?

5.) Is there a significant difference on the consumption of vegetables and their nutritional status among selected CHE students when data are group according to age, educational attainment of parents, ethnicity, and gender?

Data gathered from the questionnaire-checklist administered to 60 respondents in the four selected courses of the College of Home Economics yielded the following findings: A recent study reveals that Filipinos are the lowest in terms of vegetable consumption among Asian countries and people who eat too little vegetables are deficient in all micro-nutrients required for good nutrition. The problem of the study sought to determine the demographical profile of the respondents, the consumption of vegetables among CHE students, the level of awareness of the respondents on the beneficial effects of the consumption of vegetables, and whether there is a significant difference on the consumption of vegetables and their nutritional status when data are group according to the different demographical factors or none. The study followed an exploratorydescriptive research in a quantitative approach and employed a questionnaire checklist.The respondents of the study were the selected CHE students (from 1st 3rd year), which were obtained by taking 15 sample students per course, which comprises of 5 students per year level. The researchers hypothesized that there is a significant difference between the consumption of vegetables and nutritional status of the selected ND students where data are group according to age, educational attainment of the parents, ethnicity, and gender. The findings showed that there is no significant difference

in the consumption of vegetables with their demographical profile, but there is a significant difference in terms of their nutritional status. Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions are given: 1) The respondents of the study, whether age, educational attainment of parents, ethnicity, gender, course enrolled and year level consume vegetables every day. 2) The respondents are eating vegetables daily with these usually consumed vegetables ranked in order of the respondents usual consumption: eggplant, cabbage, petsay, malunggay, squash fruit, and carrots. 3) On the area of nutritional status, most of the respondents were classified as Normal, followed by CED Gr I, and Low Normal, respectively. 4) On the area of frequency on vegetable consumption, most of the respondents consume 2 servings a day, followed by 1 serving, then 3 servings and lastly, only one respondent answered that he consumes 4-5 servings a day. 5) On the area of beneficial effects on the consumption of vegetables, most of the respondents strongly agree with the statements that vegetable consumption prevents the development of cancer, lifestyle disease; it is high in fiber; it boost immune system; it adds bulk in the diet and important for the elimination of fecal waste; it promotes good health and well-being; it prevents nutritional deficiencies, it promotes good eyesight, it regulates the normal heartbeat, it controls blood cholesterol levels and maintains the normal functioning if all cellular units.

6) There is a significant difference on the nutritional status when data are grouped according fathers educational attainment, mothers educational attainment and

gender but no significant difference when grouped according to age, and ethnicity.

As a result of the findings and conclusions generated from the study, the following recommendations are given: The study recommends a vegetable awareness campaign in other colleges and institutions, agricultural centers and other non-governmental organizations to the populace in Zamboanga City in the form of seminars, workshops, conferences and others about the advantages of vegetable consumption and include the campaign on the recommended consumption of at least five servings of vegetables every day from the National Dietary Guidelines. The study also suggests having a further research on the comparison of consumption of vegetables versus the consumption of junk foods.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We, the researchers of the study would like to give our deepest gratitude to our adviser Prof. Leah B. Santos for the guidance and support during the process of making our thesis, to the panelists, Ms. Antonietta H. Domen as the chairperson, and as well for the members Ms. Melanie B. Lear and Ms. Jayashree C. Anama for giving criticisms which helped improve our study, to our respondents who cooperated during the gathering of data, to our parents for their undying moral and financial support and lastly to our Almighty God who continue to inspire and enlighten us spiritually.