Characteristics and factors influencing fast-food intake of young adult consumers from different socio-economic areas in Gauteng, South Africa
Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of and factors impacting on the intake of fast-foods by young adults from different socio-economic areas in Gauteng, South Africa.The population for the study (n = 341) included males (n = 180) and females (n = 161) with a mean age of 24.48 years (SD = 3.492). METHODS:A descriptive cross-sectional, observational study was performed using an interviewer-administered, validated questionnaire to elicit characteristics of the studied population (gender, education level, income status and income level), reasons for -and frequency of -fast-food intake, specific food choices at certain categories of fast-food outlets, as well as consumers' attitude towards health and healthier meal options.Purposive sampling of shopping malls was done to collect data on three weekend days at grocery stores in the shopping complexes.Statistical analysis included: Pearson Chisquare tests, likelihood ratios, linear by linear associations and Cramer's V and Kendall tau b tests. RESULTS:The studied population consisted primarily of working young adults with at least secondary education.Almost half (n = 103) of the employed participants from all socio-economic groups earned less than R5 000 per month, but spent more than R200 each month on fast-food.The majority of participants consumed take-away meals from two to three times a month to two to three times per week (85.3% (n = 291)).Socio-economic grouping (SEG) and gender were significantly related to fast-food intake (p < 0.01) with a larger proportion of participants (n = 76) in the lower socio-economic grouping (LSEG) showing more frequent use and males consuming fast-food more frequently than females.The most popular fast-foods consumed by participants in descending order were burgers 69.5%, pizza 56.6% and fried chicken 38.4%.A significant difference in the consumption of fried chicken was observed between the different SEGs, with significantly more participants from the LSEG consuming fried chicken 47.0% (p < 0.05).Choice of fast-food outlet concurred with the most popular fast-food choices.Sweetened soft drinks comprised the most popular beverage for more than half of the studied population (n = 191).The main reasons for choosing fast-food were time limitations (58.9%), convenience (58.2%) and taste (52.5%).The majority of participants were concerned about health (93.3%), with almost half of the total sample being always concerned.The majority of participants indicated concern about overweight and obesity (44.3%).Seventy-eight percent of participants indicated that they would choose a healthier option, if available.Television provided the most effective media influence on food choices. CONCLUSION:The findings of the study show a clear discrepancy between fast-food intake and health consciousness, indicating a gap between knowledge and practice.In the light of the spread of the obesity epidemic in South Africa, further research on fast-food consumption in other areas in South Africa and in other age groups (especially children and adolescents) is strongly recommended.OPSOMMING INLEIDING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stel wat die eienskappe en faktore is wat 'n uitwerking op die inname van kitskos deur jong volwassenes uit verskillende sosio-ekonomiese areas in Gauteng, Suid-Afrika, het.Die studiepopulasie (n = 341) het manlike (n=180) en vroulike (n = 161) deelnemers ingesluit met 'n gemiddelde ouderdom van 24.48 jaar (SA * = 3.492).METODES: 'n Beskrywende deursnitwaarnemingstudie is uitgevoer met behulp van 'n geldige vraelys wat deur 'n onderhoudvoerder afgeneem is om die volgende vas te stel: eienskappe van die studiepopulasie (geslag, opvoedingsvlak, inkomstestatus en inkomstevlak), redes vir, en frekwensie van, kitskosinname, spesifieke koskeuses by sekere kategorieë van kitskoswinkels, asook verbruikers se houding teenoor gesondheid en gesonder maaltydopsies.Doelgerigte steekproefneming van inkopiesentrums is gedoen deur data in te samel op drie naweekdae by kruidenierswarewinkels in die inkopiesentrums.Statistiese ontleding het die volgende ingesluit: Pearson chikwadraattoetse, aanneemlikheidsverhoudings, lineêr teenoor lineêre verwantskappe asook Cramer se V-en Kendall se tau-b-toetse.RESULTATE: Die studiepopulasie het hoofsaaklik uit werkende jong volwassenes met ten minste 'n sekondêre opvoeding bestaan.Amper die helfte (n=103) van die werkende deelnemers uit alle sosio-ekonomiese groepe het minder as R5 000 per maand verdien en meer as R200 per maand op kitskos spandeer.Die meerderheid van deelnemers het wegneemetes tussen twee tot drie keer 'n maand en twee tot drie keer 'n week (85.3% (n = 291)) geëet.'n Beduidende verwantskap tussen sosio-ekonomiese groepering (SEG) en geslag aan die een kant en kitskosinname (p < 0.01) aan die ander is gevind, met 'n groter proporsie van deelnemers (n = 76) in die laer sosio-ekonomiese groepering (LSEG) wat 'n meer gereelde inname van kitskos getoon het en manlike deelnemers wat meer gereeld kitskos geëet het as vroulike deelnemers.Die gewildste kitskos onder deelnemers was, in dalende volgorde, burgers (69.5%), pizza (56.6%) en gebraaide hoender (38.4%).Daar was 'n beduidende verskil ten opsigte van die inname van gebraaide hoender tussen die verskillende SEG's, met beduidend meer deelnemers uit die LSEG wat gebraaide hoender geëet het (47.0%(p < 0.05)).Die keuse van kitskoswinkel het ooreengestem met die gewildste kitskoskeuses.Versoete koeldranke was die gewildste drank en is deur meer as die helfte van die studiepopulasie (n = 191) gekies.Die belangrikste redes vir die keuse van kitskos was tydbeperkings (58.9%), gerief (58.2%) en die smaak (52.5%).Die meerderheid van deelnemers was besorg oor gesondheid (93.3%), met amper die helfte van die totale steekproef wat "always concerned" (altyd besorg) aangedui het.Die meerderheid van deelnemers het kommer oor oorgewig wees en vetsug uitgespreek (44.3%).Agt-en-sewentig persent van die deelnemers het aangedui dat hulle 'n gesonder opsie sou kies, indien so 'n opsie beskikbaar sou wees.Televisie blyk die doeltreffendste media om koskeuses te beïnvloed, te wees.GEVOLGTREKKING: Die bevindinge van die studie toon 'n duidelike diskrepansie tussen kitskosinname en gesondheidsbewustheid, wat dui op 'n kloof tussen kennis en praktyke.In die lig van die groeiende vetsug-epidemie in Suid-Afrika, word verdere navorsing oor kitskosinname in ander dele van Suid-Afrika en onder ander ouderdomsgroepe (veral kinders en adolessente) sterk aanbeveel.
Authors: Van Zyl, Maryke Karin
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2124218389