Effect of Educational Intervention Program regarding Knowledge, Attitude, and Habits of Junk Food among Primary School Students

Abstract

Junk food is very popular in modern society and its harmful effects cannot be neglected. The aim was to evaluate the effect of educational intervention program regarding knowledge, attitude, and habits of junk food among primary school students. Subjects and method: Design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized to fulfill the aim of this study. Setting: the research was conducted at two Mansura primary schools in Mansura city. Subjects: A multi-stages technique of purposive sample of 360 primary school students was involved in this study. Tools for data collection: A structured interview questionnaire which consisted of four parts; part (I) demographic characteristics of the primary school students; part (II) primary school students' knowledge regarding junk food (pre/post), part (III) primary school students' attitude regarding junk food (pre/post), and part (IV) primary school students' habits regarding junk food (pre/post). Results: The study result revealed that there were highly significant improvements in primary school students' knowledge, practice, and habits regarding junk food post one month of educational intervention (P<0.001). There was a positive significant correlation (P=0.005) between school-age students' knowledge scores, practice, and their habits post-one month of educational intervention program. Conclusion: The present study concluded that educational intervention program implementation had a positive effect on improving knowledge, attitude, and habits of junk food among primary school students. Recommendations: The study recommended that educational program regarding knowledge, healthy attitude and ill effects of junk food should be taught to primary school students. Replication of the current study with a larger sample of school-age students regarding junk food in different settings is required for generalizing the results.