Milk and Milk Products Consumption Habits of Primary School Students Aged 10-15 Years

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed and performed to determine milk and milk products consumption habits of primary school students aged 10-15 years in Konya Province. Subjects and Methods: The study was performed on a total of 1200 students (601 female, 599 male) aged 10-15 years and randomly selected from primary schools. A questionnaire developed by literature review was used as data collection tool in the study. Heights (cm) and body weights (kg) of participants were measured by the researcher. BMI was calculated and classified by percentiles of WHO Multicenter Growth Reference Study Group 2007. Qui-Square (χ2) and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used in the analysis of data. Results: More than half of 1200 students (50.7%) were female, and the rest (49.3%) were male. BMI percentiles of some males (15.7%) and females (19.8%) were ≤15, while BMI of some other males (22.9%) and females (8.2%) were ≥85. An important part of students (84.9%) stated that they like milk, while relatively smaller amount of them (55.7%) consumed milk every day. Some of the students consuming milk everyday (35.4%) drink 2 or more glasses of milk a day. It has been shown that significantly increased the average heigh is associated with increased amount of the milk consumed per day in the both of sexes group (p<0.05). Some students drinking milk (15.8%) consume street milk or unprocessed milk, while the majority of students (69.2%) consume pasteurized or UHT milk, and 15.1% of students consume both groups of milk. The most preferred milk product (78.8%) was cheese consumed 1-2 times a day, and the least preferred milk product was kefir which was not consumed by 75.8% of students at all. Ice cream was the third most preferred milk product by students (32.6%). It was determined that students do not consume milk and milk products in recommended amounts, that have important roles in growth, development and health protection. An important part of students do not drink milk although they like it. In addition, it was observed that students regularly drinking milk do not consume adequate amounts of milk. Conclusion: It is necessary to inform students about the importance of milk and milk products in nutrition and the amount of milk that should be consumed daily and strategies should be developed to increase milk consumption.