COLLEGEOFHEALTHYAMFO

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH NUTRITION

CLINICAL PRACTICUM REPORT

LEVEL 300
SEMESTER ONE

STUDENT NAME: Yeboaa kingsla

STUDENT ID: COHY/NUT/20/133

A REPORT ON SURVEY CONDUCTED IN THE SUNYANI MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL

ON WHAT MAKE JUNK FOODS SOO ADDICTIVE ON 2ND MAY TO 12TH MAY 2023.

INTRODUCTION
Per the school’s curriculum, students are expected to have practical experience apart from the theoretical knowledge acquired on
campus. This creates an enabling environment to sharpen the prowess of students in their chosen field of study.
sunyani Municipal Hospital was chosen as the facility of choice due to proximity and convenience as well as the past experience
gained during my first clinicalpracticum.
The period for this practical experience was two weeks thus 1st May to 12th may 2023

Upon reporting, the Municipal Nutrition Officer drew a schedule for the two weeks period and assigned me to the various units
deemed helpful for my practicum where I spent two days at each department.

FACILITY PROFILE: It has the RCH unit (Reproductive Child Health], the Birth
and Death Registry Block, Out Patient Department, The Pharmacy, The Laboratory

Unit, Post Natal Care/ Anti Natal Care Unit, The Hospital

Administration Block, The Nutrition Department and various wards of the hospital.

All these departments have specific roles they play in the hospital and also has

their separated places which make the hospital quite big.

Among all the various departments, I did my practicum at the Nutrition

Department. I was warmly welcomed into the department by the in-charge of the
department and she took me around the place for orientation which she showed
me the various activities being carried out each day and introduced me to her
other colleagues.

I would like to throw more light on some of the activities we carried out within the

period of stay.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

• Background
 • Problem statement
• General objective
• Specific objective
CHAPTER TWO (METHODOLOGY)

• Significant of study
• Study site
• Study design
• Study population
• Sampling techniques CHAPTER THREE

• Junk food eating habits

• Respondents favorites junk food
• Awareness of nutritional labels on junk foods
• Awareness of the presence of chemicals in junk foods
• Awareness about the harmful effects on the chemicals in junk foods

CHAPTER FOUR

• Skilled Acquired
• New lessons learnt
• Observations
• Challenges
• Recommendations
• Conclusions
• Appendix
• Reference

COMPETENCY AREA.

A. Nutritional survey and Nutritional Status Assessment.

Plan and conduct nutritional survey.
Analyse Nutritional survey data.
Interpret Nutritional Report.
Write Nutritional survey report.

B. Meetings / Workshops/ Tutorials.

BACKGROUND

Fast food/Junk food is designed to be tasty, comforting and

convenient. Unfortunately, whilst these foods contain lots of calories,
they often have far lower levels of fiber, water and minerals as
compared to natural foods. Packaged food and snacks are also
created specifically so that we get enough texture and taste from
each bite to tantalize our taste buds; but not enough to make us feel
full. It’s evident that fast food feels good to eat and tempts us in
many different situations. Fast food first popularized in the 1970s in
the United States, which has today the largest fast food industry in
the world. As taste, time considerations, convenience, and cost are
major factors that contribute to an adolescent's or young adult's food
choices, fast food restaurants serve as popular sites for their meals
eaten outside the home. Current approaches suggest that fast food
restaurants should be required to clarify nutrition information such
as energy and fat content on their menu boards and on product
packaging. This is important to help the consumer to make better
food choices before purchasing. An adequate, nutritious, and
balanced diet is essential to maintain health for one's lifetime. To
achieve this healthy diet, fast food consumption should be limited

PROBLEM STATEMENT

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF JUNK FOODS ON HUMAN HEALTH:

A number of studies have been conducted worldwide which had proved the
harmful effects of junk food consumption. Through these examples, we have tried
to bring your attention towards this subconscious threat of junk food.
EXPERIMENT @ SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE USA: A study by Paul Johnson
and Paul Kenny at the Scripps Research Institute in 2008 suggested that junk
food consumption alters brain activity in a manner similar to addictive drugs like
cocaine and heroin. For this study a set of rats were selected and were given junk
foods. After many weeks with unlimited access to junk food, the pleasure centers
of rat brains became desensitized, requiring more food for pleasure. After the
junk food was taken away and replaced with a healthy diet, the rats starved for
two weeks & died instead of eating nutritious food.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To find out why junk food has become so addictive to people in the Sunyani
Municipality.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. To assess the general knowledge of the effect of junk food.

2. To find out the knowledge about the harmful ingredients in junk food.
3. To ascertain the habit of junk food among people .

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Data generated from the study will provide meaningful information which would
be used to enchance the knowledge and effect of junk food in Sunyani
Municipality. Healthy eating habits among people are important since junk foods
contains some harmful ingredients that can affect the health of people . Currently
few research has been done to find the knowledge of the effect of junk food . The
study will guide policy makers and other stakeholders may find the information
useful in formulating strategies for action towards the harmful ingredients in junk
food.

STUDY SITE

The study was conducted among the people in the Sunyani Municipal Hospital.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was adopted.

STUDY POPULATION

The study was carried out among people in the municipal Hospital and students
who came for their practicum.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

Simple random sampling was employed. ( We randomly selected a subset of

participants from the population ). Each person was given an equal chance of
being selected .

SAMPLE SIZE

100 participants were chosen for the study

INTRODUCTION

Junk food is a term for food that is of little nutritional value and often high in fat,
sugar, salt, and calories. Junk foods typically contain high levels of calories from
sugar or fat with little protein, vitamins or minerals. Most of the junk foods are
rich in fats and poor in other nutrients. Common junk food includes Fast food,
chips, candy, gum, sweet desserts, sugary carbonated beverages as well as
alcoholic beverages. Many foods such as hamburgers and pizzas can be
considered either healthy or junk food depending on their ingredients and
preparation methods. More highly processed food usually fall under the junk food
category.

HARMFUL INGREDIENTS OF JUNK FOODS 1. OIL:

These are bad anti-nutrients in the form of trans fats which help
packaged foods to stay "fresh," meaning that, the food can sit on the
supermarket shelf for years without ever getting stale or rotting.
2. ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS: Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal), saccharin
(Sweet'N Low, SugarTwin), and sucralose (Splenda) are some examples of
artificial sweeteners added to our foods which may be even harder on our
metabolic systems than plain old sugar.

3. SODIUM BENZOATE AND POTASSIUM BENZOATE: These are

preservatives which sometimes are added to soda to prevent mold from growing,
but benzene is also linked with its serious thyroid damage.

4. BUTYLATED HYDROXYANISOLE (BHA): BHA is another potentially

cancercausing preservative, but it has been deemed safe by the FDA

SUBJECTS AND METHODS OF OUR SURVEY

The present survey was conducted in Sunyani Municipal Hospital. The population
sample included students who came to do their attachment and people at the
municipal hospital.

The sample population was 100 who were chosen for the study. Questionnaires
were distributed to the students and people present at the facility . Among the 100
respondents, were males 25 and 75 females. All the participants were in the age
group from 19-38years. The questionnaire was distributed and data collected in
the month of May, 2023. A single page questionnaire containing set of 16 multiple
choice questions was prepared and distributed. The people were given a brief
overview about junk foods and their ill health effects. The responses were
collected and counted manually based on the options specified for each question
framed. The participants were provided 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire
framed.
RESULTS

Favourite Junk food: The total sample size includes (N=100 individuals). The type
of junk foods preferred by the individuals s given in table 1. Nearly 40% of
respondents preferred fast food, followed by 30% of individuals who liked soft
drink, 20% consumed snacks and the remaining 10% preferred to take candies
FAVOURITE JUNK FOOD RESPONDENTS COUNT (N=100)
FAST FOOD 40
SNACK 20
SOFT DRINK 30
CANDIES 10
Table 1: Respondents favorite junk food

RESULTS OF PREFERRED J UNK

FOODS

10%
FAST FOOD
20% 40% SOFT DRINK
SNACKS
CANDIES

30%

A. Junk food Eating Habit

Three Out of ten questions were asked to analyze the eating
habit of the students. Q1.Consumption Of Junk Foods As An
Alternative To Breakfast: Around 41% of individuals indicated
that they do not take junk food as an alternative to breakfast,
32% of students indicated that they would take rarely and that to
very least quantity, 27% indicated they would take junk food as
breakfast. It is shown by fig. 1 as follows:
 32% 27% YES
NO
SOMETIMES

41%

CONSUMPTION OF JUNK FOODS

AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO
BREAKFAST

Figure 1: Junk Foods as an Alternative to Breakfast

Q2. Factors Influencing Consumption Of Junk Foods: When the students
were asked to select the factor that influenced them in selecting the type of
the junk food, 41% opted for taste, 35% due to its ease in availability & less
time consuming, 13% said they are influenced by advertisements and only
11% accepted it as a part of their lifestyle. The factors influencing the
choice of selecting a junk food is given in figure 2 as follows:
Figure 2: Consumption of junk food products as breakfast

Q3. Frequency of Junk Food Consumption: The frequency of junk food

intake by the individual per week is given in figure 3. It is found that 26%
opted for more than 3 times per week, 45% of students opted for two times
per week and 29% for once a week.
 FREQUENCY OF J UNK FOODS PER
WEEK

26% 29% ONCE

TWICE
MORE THAN THRICE

45%

B. Awareness about the Junk Food: Out of ten questions, four were asked to
analyze the student awareness about the junk food facts. Nutrient Fact
Labels: for the question related to nutrient facts labels awareness 22%
checked the label more often, 49% do not check label, and 29% individuals
checked rarely.
 NUTRITIONAL LABELS

22%
29%
YES
NO
SOMETIMES

49%

Fig.4 Awareness of Nutritional Labels On Junk Foods

2. Awareness about Presence of Chemicals in Junk Foods: In case of chemicals

and their safety level information, 28% of the students were aware of it, 47% of
students were unaware, and 25% of the students have specified that they had
some idea about some chemicals and their safety levels
 AWARENESS ABOUT PRESENCE OF
CHEMICALS IN J UNK FOODS AND
OTHER SAFETY LEVELS

28% 1st Qtr

YES
47%
NO
OTHERS
25%

Fig.5 presence of chemicals in junk foods

Q3.Harmful Effects of Chemicals Present When asked about the harmful effects of
chemicals in junk food, 30% of the students said they were completely aware of
the consequences, 54% partially aware and only very few 16% students have said
they were completely unaware of the chemicals present in junk food
consequences.
 AWARENESS ABOUT HARMFUL
EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL IN J UNK
FOODS

YES
30% NO
54% OTHERS
16%

Fig. 6 awareness about harmful effects of junk foods

B.Opinion about the Junk Food 1. Perception about Junk Food: under this section
a question was asked whether you consider junk food healthy or not. In the figure
five it is evident that about 24% of the respondents considered junk food as
unhealthy and remaining 76% considered junk food as healthy. It is shown with
the help of following fig. (7)

Respondent's Opinion
On J unk Food Status

24%
UNHEALTHY
HEALTHY

76%

Figure 7: Data representing the percentage of responses about junk food being
health or not.
SKILLED ACQUIRED

1.How to prepare a questionnaire for survey.

2. How to analyze response and interpret results of a survey.

NEW LESSONS LEARNT.

1. I learnt how to select a target group for a survey.

2. I learnt how to set objectives for a survey.

CHALLENGES.

. The clinical period was short to conduct the survey.

. Lack of knowledge on how to write a survey report.

. Limited to only the Nutrition department.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• I recommend that the Hospital Nutrition Unit be furnished with adequate furniture by the hospital
administration.

• I recommend that students on field attachment be given the opportunity to explore other
departments at the hospital

OBSERVATION.

I observed that most of the people were not having enough knowledge about the
effects of junk foods, since it was conveniences at their disposal and saves time
and energy.

And as most of them were students it was easy assess for them to feed because
they don’t have the time to cook.

TUTORIALS ON HOW TO CONDUCT SURVEY.

. Know the problem at hand.

. Know the target group.

. Set objectives of the survey.

. Set questions and response.

.Analyze the response and give results.

CONCLUSION

The focus of my finding includes the views of adolescents on junk foods, causes
of their inclination towards junk food, the harmful health effects of
overconsumption of junk food products. From our study, we have identified
certain factors responsible for increased eating habits of junk foods that include:
First, the outstation students residing in Sunyani and the students has no
alternatives for food which are both cost effective & time saving. Second, the role
of television advertisements attracts people to junk foods. Thirdly, there is a
greater need for the younger generation to understand the nutrient facts and
various chemical additives that are added to enhance junk food eating since the
matter of junk food eating is of personal choice rather than any governmental
regulations.

A part from the above cited challenges the practicum period which I had at the
Sunyani Municipal Hospital was a good experience.

I enjoyed my stay during the period.

APPENDIX

Questionnaire

1. What is your favorite junk food?

a) Fast food
b) Snacks
c) soft drinks
d) candies

2) Do you check the junk food quality?

a) Yes

b) no

c) sometimes

3) Do you check the nutrient fact label in the junk food?

a) Don't know

b) Yes I would check

c) No I don't check

d) sometimes I do check

4) Are you aware about the chemicals present in the junk food and its safety level?

a) Yes I know

b) I don't know about the chemicals present and its safety level

c) I know only about 50% of chemicals present and its safety level

5) Do you really know the harmful effects of chemical present in junk food?

a) Yes

b) no

c) others
6) What are the factors influencing the choice of junk food?

a) Time

b) taste

c) changing lifestyles

d) influence of advertisements

7) How many times do you eat junk food on an average per week?

a) Once

b) twice

c) thrice

d) four times

e) more than five times

8) In your opinion do you consider junk food is healthy or not?

a) Yes

b) no

9) Do you know having junk food on a daily basis makes you eat more?

a) Agree

b) disagree

10) Do you take junk food as an alternative to breakfast

a) Yes

b) NO
c)Sometimes
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Signature…………………..

Date: 12th MAY 2023.