జర్నల్ ఆఫ్ న్యూట్రిషన్ అండ్ డైటెటిక్స్

నైరూప్య

Food Consumption Pattern, Anthropometric and Haemogobin Status of Women (15-50 yrs) In Ukpo Dunukofia, Anambra State

Afam-Anene Olivia Chinyere, Agugo Udodiri Agatha, Onyeji Getrude Nneka and Anyadubalu Chiemenan Linda

Objectives: A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the food consumption pattern, anthropometric and haemogobin status of women of child bearing age (15-50 yrs) in Ukpo Dunukofia, Anambra State. Methodology: A total of 380 subjects, 95 from each of the four villages of Ukpo were purposively selected. Validated and pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain information on the socio-economic background and weekly food consumption pattern of the subjects. While 24 hour-dietary recall was used to determine the frequency of daily consumption of iron rich foods among the subjects. The anthropometric and haemoglobin status of the subjects were determined by comparing the body mass index (BMI), waist –to-hip ratio (WHR) and heamoglobin level with standard references. Results: Result showed that majority of the subjects were mostly single (49.5%) and within the active age (87.7%). Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) was majorly (52.9%) the highest education qualification found among the subjects, with monthly income of ≤ N 15,000 (40.7%). The result on food consumption pattern reveals that starchy root and tuber food crops were highly consumed (82.6%) on weekly basis and frequently consumed (48.2%) daily by the subjects. Prevalence of obesity (7.1%), underweight (17.9%), overweight (27.4%) and central obesity (67.1%) was observed among the subjects. Haemoglobin level of the subjects shows moderate (52%) and severely (11%) anemic. Conclusion: The poor food consumption pattern of the subjects influenced their anthropometric and hemoglobin status. Awareness on the micronutrient rich foods and adequate consumption of foods rich in iron should be extended through nutrition education to the Ukpo Dunukofia Community in Anambra State, Nigeria