HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY, NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH STATUS OF PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA
Olatidoye, O.P¹, Jimoh, K.O2 and Adebusuyi, S.M3
¹Department of Food Science and Technology, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Nigeria
2Department of Food Science and Technology, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria
3UAC Restaurant, A division of UACN Plc, P.O.Box 37040, Ibadan.
E-mail: waledoye@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Availability of food and access to food are two important determinants of food security and Childhood nutrition is known to have a considerable impact on children’s health. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the food security and health status of selected households in Nigeria. Nutritional status of one hundred and fifty children (0 – 5 years) was studied in Bode-Igbo, a rural area located in Iddo local government of Oyo State, Nigeria, to determine factors that may affect their household food security. Anthropometric measurement of height, weight, arm, head and chest circumferences were obtained together with information on socioeconomic, dietary pattern, health and sanitation of the parents using a structured questionnaire. The results showed that, using weight for height parameter, 18% had mild PEM, 19.3% were moderately malnourished and 11.3% were severely malnourished. Weight for age classification showed that 17.3% were mild, 30.7% had moderate PEM and 22% with severe PEM. Height for age, 56% of the children were normal, 60% were mild malnourished, 14.7% had moderate PEM and 23.0% had severe PEM. The majority of household heads were reported to be involved in farming (83.3%) while 50% and 27.9% of mothers were petty traders and food vendors respectively with the same population appeared to be food insecure. The findings showed that the duration of breastfeeding, areas of land owned and income had positive association with child nutritional status.
Keywords: PEM, nutritional status, malnourish, dietary intake, household food Security,