Students’ Fish Consumption Pattern; A Case Study of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State

Abstract

Investigation of students’ fish consumption pattern (fish type preference, frequency of consumption and preservation type) of residents in five hostels of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (AIFUE) was done using descriptive survey. Well-structured questionnaire were administered to male and female in their hostels using random sampling method to pick respondents from as many rooms as possible. The data obtained were analysed using employing SPSS statistical software version 29.0.2.0. Results reveal that for purchase and consumption, fresh fish (32.0%) was the most with Clarias gariepinus (46.7%) and Scomber scombrus (28.0%) as fish type most preferred. Weekly consumption of fish in however form (fresh, smoked, dried, canned etc.) shows that due to cost, schedule, taste preference and health reasons, consumption is done the most at 1 -2 fishes per week (57%, 58.6%, 47.6% and 66.6% respectively), but seldom due to the fish availability (46.6%) and hardly as a consequence of peer influence (22.2%). A positive correlation was noted for availability (r-value at .139) and peer influence (r-value at .122) on the time of fish consumption while a negative correlation was seen for schedule (r-value at -.081) and taste preference (r-value at -.236). In the same vain, a negative correlation (-.113) with non-significant values (0.168c) was recorded for cost and place of purchase. School market and local market were places patronized for fish for reasons of schedule, taste preference and health reason (32.6%, 28.6% and 41.7% respectively) and (58.7%, 59.5% and 52.1% respectively). Respondents (36.7%) agreed that the availability of fish was satisfactory, on the other hand, 53.3% strongly agreed, 26.7% agreed and as few as 12.0% and 1.3% of the respondents disagreed and strongly disagreed respectively to fish being more nutritious. While 33.3% agreed to fish being their major diet, 13.3% disagreed. The challenges to fish consumption included high cost, lack of storage facilities, unpleasant smell which got percentage frequencies of 46.7%, 38.7%, 30.7% respectively and the least for fear of bones.