Survey of Knowledge and Perceived Self-Efficacy of Related to Dairy Consumption Among Female High-School Students in Shaft County

Given the importance of adolescents’ health, especially girls and the inadequacy of dairy consumption around the world, we examined the psychological factors associated with dairy consumption behavior. Therefore, this study was conducted on high school girls.

The present descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 385 female high school students in Shaft City during 2019 using the census method. The survey questionnaire consisted of demographic information, knowledge structure, perceived self-efficacy, and dairy consumption behavior completed by students. To analyze the results,  Chi- Square tests, Spearman correlation coefficient, and multiple logistic regression were used via SPSS 21 software.

In total, 221 people (57.7%) consumed less than 2 units and 162 people (42.3) consumed more than 2 units of dairy products per day. The average scores of self-efficacy and knowledge constructs were 23.20 ± 6.6 (average) and 19.1± 3.05, respectively (at a good level). No significant correlation was found between perceived self-efficacy and dairy consumption behavior r = 0. 199 (p <0.05). Furthermore, no significant correlation was observed between knowledge and behavior (p> 0.05, r =- 0.25). The results of multiple logistic regression showed the predictive power of the perceived self-efficacy structure in dairy consumption behavior with an odds ratio of 1.052 (with a confidence interval of 95%: 1.089-1.016).

Perceived self-efficacy predicted the behavior of dairy consumption in the studied students. So, educational interventions in schools should focus more on promoting the perceptions and nutritional attitudes.