Socio-economic differences in adolescents’ breakfast eating, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity in Ghana

Bibliographic Data

ID15093593
AuthorsDavid Teye Doku (0000-0001-9503-2520, Tampere University, corresponding author), David Doku, Leena Koivusilta (0000-0002-9099-1850, University of Turku), Susanna Raisamo (0000-0003-2127-5559, Tampere University), Arja Rimpelä (0000-0003-3273-6226, Tampere University)
Year2013
Volume16
Issue5
Pages864-872
Publication date2013-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s136898001100276x
PMID22030213
OpenAlexW2064833773
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited25

Objective Few studies have investigated the association between adolescents’ socio-economic status (SES) and health behaviours in developing countries. Socio-economic differences in breakfast eating, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity were investigated among Ghanaian adolescents. Design A school-based survey of 12–18-year-olds ( n 1195, response rate 89·7 %) was conducted in 2008. Logistic regression analyses were applied to study the associations between breakfast eating, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity, and SES. Setting Southern Ghana, West Africa. Subjects School pupils aged 12–18 years. Results Of all adolescents, 31 % took breakfast less than 4 d/week, over half (56 %) and 48 %, respectively, rarely ate fruits and vegetables. Younger adolescents (12–15-year-olds) consumed fruits and vegetables frequently compared with older ones (16–18-year-olds). Boys were more likely to participate in physical activity than girls. The probability of frequent breakfast eating was higher in adolescents from more affluent backgrounds than in those from less affluent ones. Compared with those whose mothers were illiterate, both tertiary and primary maternal educational attainment increased the probability of frequent fruit intake. Similarly, tertiary educational attainment increased the likelihood of frequent vegetable intake. Compared with those with unemployed mothers, mothers’ low employment grade was related to higher probability of frequent fruit intake. High school performance was associated with frequent fruit intake, whereas high or medium school performance increased the likelihood of vegetable intake compared with low school performance. Conclusions Interventions are needed to improve breakfast intake, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity in order to prevent degenerative diseases among Ghanaian adolescents

Consumption (sociology · Educational attainment · Environmental health · Logistic regression · Physical activity · Physical therapy · Population · Psychological intervention · Socioeconomic status · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Demography · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet

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