Methods

An exploratory, descriptive non experimental study was conducted with a quantitative approach and a transversal descriptive liner. A non-probabilistic study sample was used, since all student applications for 2018 were included.

Results

Relative to socio-demographic data, program coverture was 85.71% of the student applications total, candidates presented an average age of 19 ± 4.41 years. Gender related data showed that 27.8% were male and 72.2% female. 100% percent of the applicants declared their marital status as single and only 2.7% have children. Data related to place of origin, 58 are from Ciudad del Carmen (Campeche). Also, it was determined that 42% (15) of the foreign new students are living with relatives, with a friend or alone. In relation to work, 97% (35) don’t have a job and 3% (1) have a part time job. Data related to socio - cultural and education indicators from candidates revealed that 25% of the applicants studied in private high schools while 75% attended public schools. Related to graduation date from high school 2.78% graduated in 2012, 5.5% in 2015, 2.78 in 2017 and 88.89 % in 2018. Average scores obtained by applicants during high school years presented a 78.38 ± 8.58. An 83.33% of applicants have the required high school specialization area and 84.25% of the study subjects indicated to have covered during the last year of high school the pre- requisites declared on the admission profile. 42.36% of the applicants recognize their need to improve basic skills listed as requirement on the admission profile. Related to the nutritional status of the candidates 55.56% presented nutritional health issues.

Conclusions

It was determined that the admission profile characteristics of the 2018 candidates to the Nutrition Bachelor´s degree program, exposed the need to generate intervention strategies to decrease school dropout rates.