Effects of Carbonated Drinks on the Academic Performance of Chemistry Students in Selected Secondary Schools in Okehi Local Government Area, Kogi State

Carbonated drinks are non-alcoholic drinks containing carbonated water, sweeteners and at times caffeine. They are the most consumed soft drink among students generally. This study is made to examine the knowledge and effects of carbonated drinks on the academic performance of chemistry students in Okehi Local Government Area Kogi State, Nigeria. The theoretical review was based on the Transtheorethical Model (TTM). The descriptive survey research design was adopted and samples used for the study were made up of one hundred and twenty (120) respondents. A self-constructed questionnaire using yes or no questions, and four point likert scale rating of Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, and Strongly Disagree was utilized for data collection. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 with descriptive statistics such as frequency count and percentage. Findings revealed that majority 77.3% of the students have good knowledge of the components of carbonated drinks. Majority of the respondents demonstrated a favorable attitude towards the consumption of carbonated drinks. Also, a large population of the respondents are unaware of the effects of carbonated drinks on their health. Among the recommendations are Effective public health education regarding the long-term adverse effects of carbonated drinks on health and academic performance through the media and other information disseminating platforms. Parent should strictly monitor the consumption of carbonated drinks at home by placing a limit on the amount to be consumed by the child weekly or monthly.