ABSTRACT

This study assessed the food consumption pattern and dietary diversity score of adolescents in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State. The study was a cross-sectional study and a multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 204 adolescents. Data on socio-demographic/economic characteristics, dietary habits, food consumption pattern and anthropometric status of the respondents were collected using structured and validated questionnaire. Dietary diversity score was based on 24-h recall of adolescent’s consumption of 12 food groups within the past 24-h using the FAO (2007) guidelines. Foods were categorized into 12 groups based on FAO recommendations as follows: (i) cereals, (ii) vegetables, (iii) fruits, (iv) meat, (v) egg, (vi) fish and other sea foods, (vii) legumes, nuts and seeds, (viii) milk and milk products, (ix) oil and fats, (x) sweets, (xi) spices, condiments and beverage, and (xii) tubers and roots. The IBM SPSS version 23.0 computer programme was used to analyze the data. Data obtained were described using frequency and percentage. WHO anthro plus was used to obtain the anthropometric status of the adolescents. Chi square was used to analyze relationship between dietary diversity and anthropometric indicators of the adolescents. Significant relationship was judged at p ≤ 0.05. Result from this study revealed that slightly more than half (50.5%) of the adolescents were females with a high food consumption score of 83.3%. Majority of the adolescents reported consuming high proportion of cereals (82.8%), roots and tubes (75.0%), fish foods (71.6%), oils/fats (80.4%), sweets (72.5%) and spices (76.0%). Dark green vegetables,  vitamin A rich vegetables, other fruits, flesh meats, eggs, legumes/nuts/seeds and milk/milk products were averagely consumed by 64.7%, 63.2%, 68.6%, 67.6%, 64.2% and 64.7% of the respondents, respectively and least consumed foods was organ meat (34.8%). Majority of the adolescents had a high dietary diversity score (94.1%) and the prevalence of stunting, thinness, overweight/obesity and malnutrition (MUAC) were 7.4%, 2.5%, 3.9%, 7.4%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and Dietary Diversity Scores (DDS) (<0.05). There is need for nutrition education targeted at adolescents to increase their knowledge and dietary diversity; especially the right choice of meals and adequate, healthy diet. There is also the need for change of food habits of the adolescents through locally available nutritious food, awareness of the importance of various food groups among different age groups.