Neighborhood Fast-food availability and Fast-food consumption among Households

 

Karpagavalli. R¹, Dr. Nanthini. T²

¹M.Sc Nursing, Mother Theresa Post Graduate and Research Institute of Health Sciences, Puducherry, India.

²Associate Professor, Department of Community Health Nursing, Mother Theresa Post Graduate and Research Institute of Health Sciences, Puducherry, India.

 

ABSTRACT:

Background: Obesity is currently a major public health issue in all over the world. Food is important for survival. Consumption of fast foods has become almost a global phenomenon. India’s fast-food industry is expanding at the rate of 40% every year. India ranks 10^th in the fast-food per capita spending with 2.1% of expenditure in annual total spending¹. Aim: The aim of the study was to identify the level of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Neighborhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households in selected urban area, in Puducherry”, to find out the correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households and to find association of level of knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households with selected demographic variables. Subjects and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional research was conducted among 50households in Lawspet area Puducherry, by convenience sampling technique, quantitative approach. Data was collected by using self-structured questionnaire developed by the investigator. Interview method was used to collect socio demographic data and to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Neighborhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption. Results: The study result shows that 50 households out of 34(68%) had moderate knowledge, 35(70%) had positive attitude, 21(42%) of them prefer favourite fast-food place is road side shop/restaurants, 2(40%) used to spend on fast food daily a average amount of above Rs.80 and 31(62%) were aware about fast foods through advertisement, social media and by the newspaper. Conclusion: The study concluded that households in urban area prefer fast food that there was a moderate knowledge, had positive attitude, eat fast food few times a month, favourite fast-food place prefer at road side shop/restaurants, Everyone spend Rs. 80/- on fast food daily aware about fast foods consumptions and In effect but prefer more fast food leads obesity. Community health nurse play effective role in teaching public about the effect of fast-food consumption and avoidance of fast foods. Researcher created awareness to to avoid fast foods and fast-food consumption to all households by distributing pamphlets.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Fast food’ is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly¹. Typically, it means any food that sold in a restaurant with low preparation time and can be given to the customer for take away. So, it mainly designed for its quick availability. These are specialized products such as hamburgers, pizzas, fried chicken or sand witches. It can be categorized as Junk Food (JF). According to National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), JF are classified as food products which are high in salt, sugar, fats and energy (calories) and contain little or no proteins, vitamins or minerals¹. Indian street food is famous all over the world because of its delectable taste, variety, and easy accessibility. Indian fast food or street food can be found in every part of the country with its own special touch. Not only among Indians, but foreigners are also a die-hard fan of Indian fast food². There is a rising trend among the newer generation about fast food culture. Elder people are more fascinated about healthy foods as compared to adolescents. College students are vastly exposed to harmful eating practices causing increased body weight².

 

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

In worldwide Most Americans eat fast food 1-3 times a week. Statistics survey conducted by the National Canter for Health Statistics from Center for Disease Control shows that a little over one-third (36.6%) of adults in America eat fast food on any given day. That’s about 84.8 million adults eating fast food every day, 44.9% of Americans aged 20-39 eat fast food on any given day¹. In India statistic shows the results of a survey conducted by Cint on the average number of times fast food from quick service restaurants was consumed per week in India between 2016 and 2018. In 2021, 34.52 percent of respondents in India stated they eat fast food less than once per week². According to another report, Indian fast-food market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18 per cent by 2020 due to changing consumer behaviour and demography. This indicates that India is sailing in the same boat as US when it comes to fast food consumption.³ Therefore, this study was done to find out the awareness of health hazards of fast foods, consumption of fast foods.

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A descriptive study to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Neighborhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households in selected urban area, Puducherry.

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.     To assess the level of knowledge regarding Fast food consumption among households in selected urban area, in Puducherry.

2.     To assess the level of attitude regarding Fast food consumption among households in selected urban area, in Puducherry.

3.     To assess the level of practice regarding fast food consumption among households in selected urban area, in Puducherry.

4.     To find out the correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households.

5.     To find association of level of knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households with selected demographic variables.

 

METHODOLOGY:

A descriptive Cross sectional survey research design was used among 50 households was selected by using Convenience sampling technique. The tools include Section A: Demographic variables of the subjects. Section B: Level of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households. Section C: Relationship between knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households. Section D: Association of level of knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households with selected demographic variables.

 

Ethical Consideration:

The ethical clearances were obtained from ethical committee from my own institution (MTPG & RIHS). Before the collection of data, formal consent and permission was obtained from households at in selected urban area, in Puducherry. The samples were selected based on inclusion criteria. Moreover, informed consent was obtained from each sample. The samples were given freedom to withdraw from the study at any time of the study period.

 

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of level of knowledge regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households.                                          N = 50

 

The above table 1 shows that 34(68%) had moderate knowledge, 13(26%) had inadequate knowledge and 3(6%) had adequate knowledge regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households.

 

Table 2: Frequency and percentage distribution of level of attitude towards neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households.                                           N = 50

 

The above table 2 shows that 35(70%) had positive attitude, 15(30%) had negativeuncertain attitude towards neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households.

 

Table 3: Frequency and percentage distribution of level of practice regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast food consumption amonghouseholds.                                N = 50

 

The table 3 shows that most of the households, 20(40%) eat fast food few times a month, 21(42%) favourite fast food place is road side shop/restaurants, 2(40%) used to spend on fast food daily a average amount of above Rs.80 and 31(62%) were aware about fast foods through advertisement, social media and by newspaper.

 

Relationship between knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption amonghouseholds.

 

Table 4: Correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast food consumption among households.                                               N = 50

*p<0.05, S – Significant

 

The table 4 shows that the mean score of knowledge was 6.16±1.89 and the mean score of attitude was 26.62±4.87. The calculated Karl Pearson’s Correlation value of r=0.307 between knowledge and attitude shows a moderate positive correlation which was found to be statistically significant at p<0.05 level. This clearly infers that when knowledge regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households increases their attitude level towards it also increases.

 

Scatter Dot diagram showing the correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast food consumption among households. (r=0.307)

 

RESULTS:

Regarding sample distribution variable out of 50 households, 27(54%) of them were female, 23(46%) of them in the age group of 18-24 years, 27(54%) of them were obese, 24(48%) of them average monthly individual income of 0 to 10000, 33(66%) of them were graduate degree, 21(42%) were student, 39(78%) of them Hindus, 29(58%) belonged to nuclear family, 46(92%) were non-vegetarian, 31(62%) were unmarried, 24(48%) had 3-5members in their household, 17(34%) received information through television, 40(80%) had no systemic disorder. Out of 50 households only 6% of them had adequate knowledge about fast food consumption, 35% of Negative uncertain attitude towards consumption.

 

There is a positive correlation between knowledge and attitude and it was statistically significant at p<0.05 level. It was evident that if knowledge increases, attitude increases. So, As a community health nurse created awareness to all households to avoid junk fast foods and fast food consumptions effects.

 

CONCLUSION:

The present study concludes households had inadequate knowledge and attitude about the ill effects of junk food and fast-food consumption. So, researcher created awareness about the Ill effects of junk food and fast-food consumption among urban households in selected area of Puducherry.

 

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Received on 28.06.2022         Modified on 12.07.2022

Accepted on 17.08.2022       ©A&V Publications All right reserved