Factors influencing healthy eating habits of students at Universities in Eswatini

Abstract

Healthy eating and healthy eating habits are generally known to be important in the process of physical and mental growth. In particular, eating habits have a huge role to play in the academic performance of students at various levels of education. Recent international studies reporting on healthy eating among university students have established the need to develop an understanding of the eating habits of students according to their levels of education and other variables. This study reports on the factors influencing healthy eating habits among final year university students, focusing specifically on students taking courses in Consumer Science. This study aimed at answering the following questions: a) What individual factors influence healthy eating habits of students at universities in Eswatini? b) What social factors influence healthy eating habits of students at universities in Eswatini? c) What environmental factors influence healthy eating habits of students at universities in Eswatini? d) What strategies could promote healthy eating habits among university students in Eswatini? Underpinned by an ecological theoretical framework, the study adopted a qualitative approach, relying on forty (40) purposefully-sampled Consumer Science final year students from two Universities. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to gather data, which was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study showed that among many factors: insufficient income, university related stress, lack of taste in meals, lack of nutritional knowledge, family members and background, friends and peers, social media, cost of food and reliance on university food outlets were all common influences of healthy eating habits among university students. Compulsory eating of healthy meals by all students at the dining hall, increasing student income, maximising nutritional knowledge, use of social media and low food cost were some of the strategies highlighted in promoting healthy eating habits of students. These could be enforced by the universities in an effort to improve student academic performance.