Assessment of Nutritional Knowledge and Awareness in Rural and Urban Adolescents upon a Visual Aid Educational Intervention
Podila Rasagna *
Department of Food and Nutrition, Post Graduate and Research Centre, PJT Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500030, Telangana, India.
Afifa Jahan
Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Saifabad, Hyderabad - 500004, Telangana, India.
Sucharita Devi
Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Saifabad, Hyderabad - 500004, Telangana, India.
D. Shireesha
Extension Education Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500030, Telangana, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Adolescence is a critical period of growth that requires adequate nutrition; however, many adolescents have limited awareness of balanced diets and essential nutrients. Educational interventions using visual aids may help improve nutritional knowledge and promote healthier dietary choices.
Aims: To assess nutritional awareness regarding a balanced diet and essential nutrients among rural and urban adolescents aged 13-15 years and to evaluate the effectiveness of a visual aid- based nutrition education intervention in improving nutritional knowledge.
Study Design: Pre - post interventional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in selected rural and urban areas of Telangana State, India, for 3 months.
Methodology: A purposive selective sampling was used to choose 200 adolescents aged between 13 and 15 years, consisting of 100 rural and 100 urban participants. A standardized questionnaire was used to evaluate the existing knowledge on nutritional awareness. The participants received a nutrition education intervention based on visual aids. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and paired t-test were used to examine the data.
Results: Pre-test findings revealed comparatively lower nutritional awareness among rural adolescents than urban adolescents. Following the intervention, a substantial improvement in awareness scores was observed, increasing from 8.02 ± 0.14 to 23.84 ± 0.37 among rural girls, from 8.10 ± 0.37 to 23.65 ± 0.48 among rural boys, from 10.00 ± 2.91 to 23.68 ± 0.94 among urban girls, and from 9.60 ± 2.59 to 23.54 ± 1.23 among urban boys. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant improvement in post-test scores among all groups (p < 0.001)
Conclusion: Visual aid-based educational nutrition intervention effectively improved adolescents' knowledge of nutrition and may support healthier dietary understanding and practices among rural and urban populations.
Keywords: Nutritional awareness, adolescents, nutritional education, visual aids, balanced diet