Food acculturation challenges of non-indigenous students in a metropolitan Nigerian university: A cross-sectional study.

Toluwalope Emmanuel Eyinla; Isreal Ajise

doi:10.51168/2h1wcy94

Autori

Toluwalope Emmanuel Eyinla Department of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan
Isreal Ajise Department of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/2h1wcy94

Cuvinte cheie:

food challenges, dietary adaptation, food neophobia, Nigeria

Rezumat

Background:

For students who move away from their home environments to attend university, the adjustment to a new setting often brings significant challenges to food acculturation. The study aimed to identify the food acculturation challenges faced by non-indigenous students at the University of Ibadan, South West Nigeria, and corresponding adaptation strategies.

Methods:

Snowball sampling was used to recruit a total of 155 undergraduate and postgraduate students who were indigenes of regions outside South West Nigeria, but were studying at the University of Ibadan. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit data on socio-demographics, food choice-related challenges, and associated coping mechanisms of respondents. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Version 20) to describe findings and determine statistical relationships among variables.

Results:

Findings revealed that 86.5% of students who had spent less than one year in Ibadan struggled more with dietary adaptation, compared to only 50% among those who had lived there for at least three years (p = 0.024). Few students also reported experiencing health issues, such as stomach aches, food allergies, and weight loss, as a result of dietary changes and adjustments in Ibadan. Students also adopted coping strategies such as meal skipping, bringing ingredients from their home state, and monotonous diets.

Conclusion:

Based on these findings, the study concludes that non-indigenous students face substantial food acculturation challenges at the University of Ibadan and

Recommendations:

Relevant institutional policies, including specialized orientation programmes that support sociocultural food integration of non-indigenes to enhance their dietary choices while studying.

Biografii autori

Toluwalope Emmanuel Eyinla, Department of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan

Lecturer, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Ibadan
Isreal Ajise, Department of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan

Masters student, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Ibadan.

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