| dc.description.abstract | Adolescent girls in South Sudan, notably in its capital, Juba, experience significant dietary
difficulties. These difficulties, frequently caused by socioeconomic circumstances, are made
worse by a general lack of dietary knowledge. According to the "Theory of Reasoned Action"
and the "Theory of Planned," this study sought to evaluate the impact of the Nutrition
Education Program on the eating behaviours of adolescent females in Juba between the ages
of 12 and 18. Understanding education's influence on dietary choices is crucial in light of
Juba's nutritional challenges. This study offers priceless knowledge that can direct future
initiatives to encourage teens to adopt healthy eating habits. The study focused on teenage
females enrolled in Juba's secondary schools and covered the whole geographic area of the
country's capital and largest city. Using a cross-sectional research approach, data were
gathered at a specific time without changing the study variables. This approach allowed the
study to effectively capture the relationships between socio-demographic traits, student
attitudes, nutrition knowledge, and dietary practices. Although this design does not prove
causation, it provides a thorough picture of the current state of affairs and lays the
groundwork for developing hypotheses for further research. The study combined descriptive
statistics, Chi-Square tests, and Spearman Rank Order correlations for data analysis using
SPSS version 24. The results highlighted how socio-demographic characteristics have a
substantial impact on eating decisions. Mainly, it was discovered that the main variables were
household size, income, and occupation. The striking finding was that over 31.22 per cent of
the girls, a sizeable chunk ate fewer than two meals daily. Additionally, skipping meals was
expected, with lunch being the meal that was skipped the most. Girls from households with
more than five people tended to miss meals (2 = 38.346, P = 0.000). The number of meals
consumed and household income also showed a direct link (2 = 27.704, P = 0.000).
Additionally, food habits were significantly influenced by the occupation of the family head
(2 = 22.085, P = 0.000). The information showed that socioeconomic characteristics,
household size, income, and the job of the household head significantly influenced the girls'
eating behaviours. Notably, many of these girls were discovered to eat fewer than two meals
daily, frequently missing meals, particularly lunch. Additionally, while a sizable majority of
females had a negative attitude regarding nutrition, those who received nutrition instruction
showed better dietary habits. In conclusion, nutrition education influences how adolescent
girls in Juba develop healthy eating habits. However, socioeconomic factors continue to
impact, highlighting the need for comprehensive interventions. The study strongly advocated
for the inclusion of nutrition education in schools, highlighting its crucial role in guiding
teenagers toward developing healthy eating habits. Cooperation between the government,
civil society organizations, and religious institutions is crucial to increase awareness and
support nutrition education projects. | en_US |
