ABSTRACT

Nutritional adequacy is the key element for human growth and development. Inadequate or excess intake of the nutrients may result to poor nutritional status. However, Dietary diversity has been considered a potential 'proxy' indicator to reflect nutrient intake adequacy.  This study aimed at assessing the Dietary Diversity and Nutrient Adequacy among adults in Rural Ikwuano Local Government of Abia State; calculate nutrient adequacy of the participants, determine the dietary diversity score and the relationship between dietary diversity score and nutrient adequacy.  The respondents were selected using a simple random sampling technique involving 439 adults in Amawom and Amaoba, ikwuano L.G.A. The anthropometric measurements of the respondents were taken using standard equipment. A 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire was used to assess the food intake of the respondents, which was converted into nutrient intake using Nutri-survey software. Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was created using a 16-food group model. Nutrient intake was evaluated using Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR). Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was calculated as an indicator of nutrient intake adequacy. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used for analysis of the data collected. More than half (56.4%) of the respondents had normal body weight, 4% were underweight, 23.8% were overweight and 15.9% were obese. The diet of the respondents consisted of food items mainly from food groups such as cereals, white roots and tubers, vitamin A-rich vegetables, spices, condiments and beverages. Fruits and foods from milk and milk products were the least consumed. The mean DDS was 9.11±1.79, 97.4% of the respondents had high DDS, 1.9% had medium DDS and 0.7% had low DDS. The MAR was lower in the female (64.39) than male (66.99). Zinc had an average NAR of at least 100%. Carbohydrate had an average NAR greater than 90%. The result revealed that protein and carbohydrate intakes were significantly higher in female participants (83.70± 35.92) and (91.82 ± 40.31) respectively than male participants (76.29 ± 34.16) and (82.66 ± 40.62) respectively. This study revealed that there was no significant relationship between nutrient adequacy ratio and dietary diversity score and no significant relationship between mean adequacy ratio and dietary diversity score.