Knowledge and attitude of probiotics among the residents of Abeokuta, Ogun State

Abstract

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that offer beneficial effects in the body. Probiotics are functional foods whose beneficial effects cannot be over-emphasized. This study evaluated the association between the demography of residents of Abeokuta and their knowledge of probiotics. Descriptive study at evaluating the knowledge of probiotics among respondents was carried out. A combination of reviewed literature and structured questionnaire was administered to respondents in a purposively selected area of Abeokuta South and Abeokuta North local governments. All the five hundred (500) questionnaires were retrieved (100%). The result showed that there was association between the educational qualification of respondents and their knowledge of probiotics (χ22=12.41, P < 0.053) and the age of respondents and their knowledge of probiotics (χ2=23.45, P< 0.003). No association was found between the gender and the knowledge of probiotics (χ2 =2.08, P>0.353). Education and enlightenments of residents can be achieved through social media, print media and aggressive campaign to spread the knowledge of probiotics.