KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HYDRATION IN IMPROVING OVERALL HEALTH AMONG UNIVERSITY OF BENIN STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to examine the knowledge, attitude and practice of hydration in improving overall health among University of Benin Students. To guide this study, three research questions were raised and answered by the. The descriptive survey research design was employed in conducting the study. The main instrument for the study was a self-structured questionnaire. The sample of the study was 275 drawn from the 47,468 students in the University of Benin, Edo State. The validity of the instrument was established by giving it to the supervisor and two other experts in the field of the research study. The reliability of the instrument was established using the split-half method of reliability which yielded a Coefficient of 0.826. The data obtained from the questionnaires were subjected to analysis using frequency counts and percentages. The findings of this study revealed that the level of knowledge of the students of the University of Benin is high which was attributed to their exposure on the importance of staying hydrated, the rationale for drinking water in order to maintain their body balance, regulate the proper circulation of fluids in their body and the need to stay hydrated. Also the students have positive attitudes towards hydration and the adequacy in practice of hydration among the respondents is moderate. It was concluded that given the importance of proper hydration for health, knowledge of the variables influencing fluid intake habits is crucial for creating hydration interventions that are more successful. For students without proper information about hydration, increasing knowledge might be required, but attitudes are probably going to have a bigger influence on fluid intake behaviors. Hence, it is imperative to devise strategies to aid in encouraging students to follow appropriate hydration habits. It was therefore recommended that Students should be enlightened regularly on the continuous importance of staying hydrated daily and the need for the adequate intake of water daily which is 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men/ 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women. Due to the day to day activities students are required to go through, they should endeavour to stay hydrated which helps in maintaining the water balance in their body. Students should be conscious and deliberate about their hydration status and level daily by ensuring e.g setting reminders at intervals in order to drink water, filling their water cans to enable the easy reach for water to maintain good circulation in their body system.