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. 2023 Jan 10;9(1):7.
doi: 10.1186/s40795-023-00672-6.

Breakfast intake and associated factors and barriers among tertiary institution students in the Western Region, Ghana

Regina Enyonam Adonu  1 , Millicent Amoah  2 , Farrukh Ishaque Saah  3   4
Affiliations

Breakfast intake and associated factors and barriers among tertiary institution students in the Western Region, Ghana

Regina Enyonam Adonu et al. BMC Nutr. .

Abstract

Background: Breakfast is considered the day's most important meal. Skipping breakfast consumption is detrimental to health and intellectual performance. University life has tight schedules and rigorous intellectual activities often very early in the morning. This study aimed at assessing breakfast intake and its associated factors among the students of Takoradi Technical University (TTU).

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data was collected from 347 students in TTU using pre-tested questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using STATA v17. It employed descriptive and inferential statistics such as logistic regression. P-value less than 0.05 was set as statistical significance at 95% confidence interval.

Results: Regular breakfast was taken by 35.7% of the students. Higher odds of regular breakfast intake were found among respondents aged 25-29 years (AOR = 3.13, 95%CI = 1.57-6.24) and those who buy their breakfast (AOR = 5.13, 95%CI = 2.16-12.19). However, lower odds of regular breakfast consumption were found among respondents who were females (AOR = 0.40, 95%CI = 0.18-0.85). Barriers to regular breakfast intake included negative mood, insufficient funds, health condition, weight management, religious reasons such as fasting, limited time/unfavourable academic schedules, daily activities/workload, and cost of food on campus.

Conclusion: The study stressed on the need for external and personal factors such as sex, age, religion, limited time/unfavourable academic schedules among others that hinder habitual breakfast intake to be addressed adopting innovative approach such as peer education and campaigns. University management should implement favourable policies on academic schedules, canteens/cafeterias, less stringent regulation on cooking at halls of residence.

Keywords: Barriers; Breakfast intake; Ghana; Tertiary institution students; Western Region.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prevalence of regular breakfast intake among students at TTU
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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