ABSTRACT

A household is food secure when all members of its household have access to sufficient food needed to sustain them and live a healthy life. This study evaluated the household food security and the anthropometric status of women in Oru-East LGA, Imo State. The study is a cross sectional study which includes women (not pregnant or lactating) in Oru-East Local Government Area in Imo State. The sample for the study was 200 women. The study collected food security data using the food insecurity experience scale questionnaire, while the height and weight were realized by taking the measurements of the women. The data realized were analyzed using descriptive statistics and person correlation. The study found that many (44.0%) of the women stopped at secondary education, some (35.0%) were civil servants, more than half (54.5%) were from households of 4-6 persons. The food security status of the women showed that majority (67.0%) of the women were food secure and only 3.5% were severely food insecure. The result on anthropometric status of the women showed that almost half (47.1%) of the women were overweight, while more than half (57.2%) were at moderate risk of obesity judging from their WHR results. The result finally revealed that there was a significant (P<0.05) relationship between food security status and anthropometric status of the women. The study however concludes that the women in Oru-East L.G.A in Imo state were food secure. The study among others recommended that nutritional educational program should be organized for the women to help them improve their food choices