Jike-Wai O, Emodi I.A, and Opurum L.C

INTODUCTION The study was carried out in University of Port Harcourt (UPH) and Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST).  Nutrition is of utmost relevance in the enhancement, sustenance, and predicting of human health.  Proper and adequate nutrition as well as fruit consumption pattern has great influence on the growth and development of an individual.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The study;  assessed the fruit consumption pattern of RSUST and UPH students.  ascertained the level of nutrition knowledge of student of both schools.  assessed the nutritional status of the students

METHODOLOGY  Area of Study:- Port Harcourt, Rivers State  Sampling:- Simple Random sampling Technique  Sample Size :- 200 (100 for UPH and RSUST respectively)  Instrument for Data Collection:- (1)Questionnaire (2) Flat Bottom Scale (3) Wooden Measuring Tape

RESULTS PRESENTATION Table 1: Sex and Age distribution of Respondents (%) VariableRSUSTUPH Sex Male7359 Female2741 Total Age and above11 Total100100

Table 2: Frequency of Fruit Consumption by Respondents (%) FrequencyRSUSTUPH Daily2426 Once a week times a week2927 Occasionally1718 Never--

Table 3: Frequency of Meal Consumption by Respondents (%) Frequency (per day)RSUST UPH Once22 Twice times6460 Go without meals some days11 Total100100

Table 4: Respondents Attitude to Consuming Fruits with each meal (%) Do you eat fruits with each meal consumedRSUST UPH Yes79 Not regularly 5251 No4140

Table 5: Type of Snack Consumed by Respondents (%) SnacksRSUSTUPH Fruits1717 Pastry foods6064 Rice meals96 Other meals1413

Table 6: Respondents Monthly upkeep Allowance (Naira) Amount N RSUST UPH Less than N N6000 – N10, N11,000-N15, More than N15,00088

Table 7: Reason for Eating Fruits (%) ReasonsRSUSTUPH Source of vitamin and mineral6365 Body building1814 Like eating fruits79 Prevent diseases99 Provides energy33

Table 8: Students Response on items of Nutritional Knowledge(%) Levels of knowledgeRSUSTUPH Excellent (70-100%)5146 Good (50-69)1921 Fair (40-49)511 Poor (0-39%)2522

Table 9: Respondents Frequency of Physical Exercise (%) Frequency of exerciseRSUSTUPH Once a week71 Once a month513 Occasionally2511 Never6375

Table 10: Body Mass Index Range & Scores BMI rangeRSUSTUPH Less than 18.5 (underweight) (Normal) (overweight) – 34.9 (obese I) (obese II)11

CONCLUSION The study revealed that although 100% of the respondents from both institutions claimed to consume fruits at some point in the week, various forms of malnutrition exist among them as shown by the lower and higher BMI’s, despite their adequate level of nutrition knowledge. This therefore reveals the need for nutrition intervention and education program in the universities.

THANK YOU FOUR YOUR MERITORIOUS ATTENTION