Abstract

Abstract


Objective: To determine the knowledge regarding calcium contained in food among secondary school-going children.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2013 in two public and two private schools of Jamshed Town, Karachi. Stratified random sampling was used to raise the study sample. A pre-coded, piloted questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analysed using SPSS 19.
Results: Of the 153 participants, 27(18.3%) had adequate knowledge while 126(81.7%) had inadequate knowledge about calcium contained in food. The mean age of the participants was 13.52±1.725 years. Statistically significant association was present between knowledge regarding calcium and mother\'s and father\'s educational level (p=0.039 and p=0.012, respectively), mother\'s and father\'s working status (p=0.002 and p=0.015, respectively) and acquisition of knowledge from parents (p=0.020), teachers (p=0.039) and via television (p=0.034).
Conclusion: Most adolescents did not have knowledge about calcium contained in food.
Keywords: Calcium, Knowledge, Adolescents, Secondary schools.