ABSTRACT

It is a generally accepted fact that food still remains a basic necessity of life. Hence, an adequate food intake in terms of quantity and quality is crucial for healthy and productive life. This study was carried out to assess the dietary practices, food security and anthropometric status of non-academic junior staff of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. A cross sectional study design, population comprised of junior staff non-academic junior staff of MOUAU, a sample size of 400, a multi-stage sampling technique were adopted for this study while a well-structured and validated questionnaire was used for the data collection and analyzed using descriptive statistics, pearson correlation and significance was judged at p<0.05 using the Statistical Package for Socials Sciences (SPSS version 25). The result of the study showed that more of the respondents (45.50%) were within the age bracket of 36-46 years, 60.5% were female, 72.0% were married, 64.5% had tertiary education, 92.5% were Christians, 94.5% were Igbos, 81.75% lived in rural areas, 45.5% had 1-5 years of experience while 36.0% of the respondents had 3-4 household members/family size. Majority of the respondents (71.5%) ate food thrice a day, 75.5% indicated that they ate twice enough for each meal while 24.5% of the respondents ate once enough for each meal. 65.0% of the respondents accepted that they skip meals, 48.5% of the respondents skipped breakfast while 32.5%, 6.25%, 5.75%, 4.5% and 2.5% of the respondents skipped lunch, dinner, breakfast+lunch, breakfast+dinner and lunch+dinner respectively, 36.0% ate snacks, 51.5% ate vegetables and fruits occasionally, 46.75% showed that they consumed their foods when they were hungry. Dietary diversity of the respondents showed that the respondents ate categories of foods which are good source of protein, healthy fat, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals, were food secure, although 75.75% and 57.0% of the respondents indicated “yes” that during the last 4 weeks, there was a time they were worried that they will not have enough food to eat due to lack of money or other resources and was there a time when you ate only a few kind of food because of lack of money or other resources respectively. The results revealed there was significant relationship (p<0.05) among the respondents’ food security score and total dietary practices, BMI(kg/m) and dietary practices and Waist Hip ratio and dietary practices. The study recommended the provision of basis for encouraging nutritional requirements of individuals and sensitizing them on its necessities for efficient promotion of good health and advancement of normal life as well as enhancing and promoting the socio-economic variables of the respondents with emphasis on income development/diversification.