Nutrition knowledge, dietary practices and nutritional status of non-academic staff at the Tamale campus of University for Development Studies

BACKGROUND: The significance of nutritional status of individuals have economic effects on national development. Non-communicable diseases have shown to increase due to nutrition transition. This study aimed at determining the influence of nutrition knowledge and dietary practices on the nutritional status of non-academic staff at the Tamale campus of University for Development Studies (UDS). The question was, does poor nutrition knowledge result into poor dietary practices and nutritional status? METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used to take data on 152 non-academic staff of UDS-Tamale campus comprising adults 18–59 years. Non-probability quota sampling was used to collect data. Data processing was done using SPSS version 21. Means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables whiles categorical variables were analysed using frequencies and percentages. Chi-square test was used to determine associations between categorical variables. A p-value < 0.05, in all analysis, was considered statistically significant. Semi-structured questionnaires were used in collecting data. Data was taken between May and June 2017. RESULTS: This study involved 93 males and 59 females' non-academic staff of UDS, Tamale campus. Majority (56%) had good nutrition knowledge of which most of the males had a high percentage compared to the females. Majority (81.6%) had a moderate dietary diversity. Only 15.1% had a higher dietary diversity and rest had low dietary diversity. Overweight and obesity together was 43.4%, though it was more prevalent among women. There was no statistically significant association between nutrition knowledge and overweight (p = 0.253) as well as between dietary diversity and nutritional status (p = 0.686). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of good nutrition knowledge was high among non-academic staff of UDS Tamale campus and most of them also had a moderate dietary diversity. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 43% and nutrition knowledge was not associated with nutritional status. No association was established between dietary diversity and nutritional status.