ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF INMATES IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Akinlotan J.V, Nupo S .S  and Olorode O.O

Department Of Food Science and Technology

Moshood  Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State

e- mail: sundaynupo@yahoo

ABSTRACT

Prison is an ancient instrument where diverse people who had run foul of the law, some of them possibly innocent lives. Food plays a major role in the life of prisoners, poorly designed meal, inadequate portion sizes, lack of variety and poorly cooked food can contribute to serious health conditions. Representative samples of one hundred and eighty seven (187) inmates were selected from Oyo state prison randomly. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic characteristics, lifestyle, health status, sanitary information, nutritional knowledge and frequency of food consumption. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15.0. The result of the demographic characteristics of the respondents showed that majority of the respondents were within the age range 19-59 years, most of them were married and had nuclear family. The result of the lifestyle and health status of the respondents revealed that majority of the respondents (95%) were cigarette smokers, the result of their health status showed that most of the respondents (80%) had malaria as their regular illness and got sick at least once in a month. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, arm, waist and hip) of the respondents were measured to determine the body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) which were used to determine their nutritional status. The result of the nutritional status showed that most of the respondents (59%) had normal weight, 4% were underweight, and 29% overweight while 7% obese.  Information on the food intake obtained from 24 hours dietary recall techniques showed that the energy intake were higher than WHO, 2000 recommended intake while protein intake was low. The nutritional status of the respondents can be improved if proper nutritional status counseling and care can be given. The prisons were not as worse as people view it.

Keynotes: Prison, Anthropometric, Information, Overweight, Nutritional