Assessment of the Nutrition-related Cancer Prevention Knowledge among Undergraduate Students in University of Port Harcourt, Rivers Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Undergraduate students are at a developmental period in life in which several health-related behaviours begin to form. Poor nutrition and certain lifestyle habits are the resultant effects of westernization and they are factors that contribute to the rising burden of cancer. This is clearly seen in the current shift from complex carbohydrate diet to refined carbohydrate form.   Aims: The present study aims to assess the nutrition-related cancer prevention knowledge of undergraduate students at University of Port Harcourt. Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed Place and Duration of Study: University of Port Harcourt, Rivers Nigeria between June 2018 and August 2018. Methodology: A total of 423 undergraduate students in the University of Port Harcourt campus, Rivers state, Nigeria were selected with a multistage sampling technique. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire assessed the nutrition-related cancer prevention knowledge of the participants based on the World Cancer Research Fund recommendations. Results: The results showed that out of 423, only 94 (22%) of the students had good nutrition-related knowledge of cancer prevention. For the general knowledge of nutrition, 210 (49.6%) of the students had good knowledge. Conclusion: Majority of the students had a good general knowledge of nutrition but the nutrition-related knowledge for the prevention of cancer was low among the students. As a result of these findings, public health education programs that address the dangers of unhealthy food practices as well as improving the nutritional knowledge for cancer prevention among undergraduate student population should be intensified.