ABSTRACT

The present study assessed the household food security and anthropometric status of women in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. The study employed a cross sectional study design. The population of the study were women that are not pregnant or lactating in Obingwa L.G.A. The sample of the study were made up of 203 women. Data for the study was realized using a structured questionnaire. Weights and heights of the women were measured from which their BMI was calculated. Hip and waist circumference were measured also from which their WHR was calculated. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics while the association between food security and anthropometric status of the women was done using chi-square. Data was analyzed using WHO anthropometric software and statistical package service software (SPSS). The result obtained was presented in frequency and percentage. The result of the study showed that  41.8% of the women were from 45 years and above, majority (94.0%) were Christians, almost half (49.3%) were civil servants, majority (64.2%) were married, almost half (49.8%) of the women sourced their food from market or farm and (34.0%) had acquired tertiary education. The food security status of the women showed that some (37.0%) of the women were food secure while 13.5% were severely food insecure. Some (32.8%) of the women were overweight, 21.9% of them were obese while 52.3% were at high risk of Cardiovascular diseases. The association between personal and socio-economic status and their food security status, the result showed that education, occupation and income level were all significantly associated with food security at 1% level, with X² values of 45.23, 33.24 and 45.89. On the association between food security level and anthropometric status, the result showed that food security was significantly (P<0.05) associated with anthropometric status with  X²value of 43.93. Relationship between food security status and anthropometric status, the result showed that food secure were significantly(P<0.01) and positively correlated to BMI and WHR and severe food insecure were significant (P<0.01) and negatively correlated to BMI and WHR. The study concluded that food security status of the women in the area can have an effect on their nutritional status. The study among other things recommended that nutritional educational program should be organized for the women to help them improve their food choices.