ABSTRACT

 Food insecurity is a situation of limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or a situation of limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable food in socially acceptable way. Food security within the family and the larger community is essential for adequate nutrition. This study was conducted in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. This study was a cross sectional survey involving households and school aged children in Ihitte Uboma. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric status of the school aged were studied. Food security module (FSSM) was used to categorize food secure and food insecure households within the area of research. The weight of each respondent was measured using a bathroom scale (Hanson model). The height of each subject was measured using a constructed vertical wooden heightometer. The data obtained were entered into SPSS (Statistical product for service solution) version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages) were used to show the distribution of subjects according to variables of interest such as nutritional status and anthropometric status. Selected variables identified to influence food insecurity wereanalyzed in comparison to levels of food security by the use of percentages. A little above half (55%) of the subjects were females while 45% were male subjects. Some (37.3%) of the children were between the ages of 8-9 years and a further 33.2% were between the ages of 6-7 years while only 29.5% were between 10-12 years. Some (27.3%) of the subjects were in primary 5 while few (7.7%) were in primary 1. Majority (83.4%) of the children had both fathers and mothers while a little below half (44.3%) of the subjects had 3-4 siblings. More than half (53.5%) of the children had medium dietary diversity in their diets. Although some (36.9%) of the children had high diversity diets, few (9.6%) had low diversity. The prevalence of underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight, and obesity obtained in this study were 1. 1%, 2.2%, 5.2%, 21 % and 6.6% respectively. In terms of household food insecurity, all (100%) of the subjects were food secure. The coping strategies adopted by the households were subsistence farming (79%) government assistance (15.5%), borrowing (9%) and loan (6%). This study recommends a multisectoral approach towards the sustainability of food security among the studied population, this can be done through empowerment programs that will focus on training and education. financial support for small and medium scale business and governmental support in terms of policies and regulations. Urgent research on the causes of child malnutrition is also needed to be able to identify the factors responsible for malnutrition among children. Nutrition education to the caregivers is necessary to ensure proper feeding and care.