European Journal of Scientific Research (ISSN: 1450 ... - EuroJournals

© European Journal of Scientific Research, Vol 7, No 5, 2005
country (NDHS, 2003). The types, quantity, quality and frequency of food eaten is
reported to have declined over recent years (Todd, 1995).
In spite of this, the 2003 NDHS Report shows that one-fifth of Nigerian women weigh
more than they should: 15% are overweight and 6% are obese. While about two-third of
women (64%) have body mass index (BMI) in the normal range, 15% are thin, and 2%
are severely thin. This therefore implies that both forms of malnutrition (undernutrition
and overnutrition) coexist in the population. This has been described as a double burden
of disease (Hawkes et al 2005). The implication of this on the health budget is ominous.
The population of Nigeria is predominantly rural; approximately one-third live in urban
areas (NDHS, 2003). Despite her wealth of human and natural resources, Nigeria is
ranked among the 13 poorest countries in the world and two of every three Nigerians live
below the poverty line of US$1 a day (World Bank, 2001). It is a paradox that Nigeria is
rich but Nigerians are poor (World Bank, 1995). Poverty directly and indirectly affects
dietary intake and food consumption is influenced by household food insecurity. While
80% of Nigerians spend more than 80% of their income on food, the food insecurity level
among the households is perceived to be high. The conclusion drawn from Federal Office
of Statistics (FOS) surveys show that poor households face food insecurity before harvest
time and are often limited to starch-based consumption, particularly such items as
cassava products (World Bank, 1996). The high prevalence of poverty observed in the
country is one of the basic factors responsible for the problem of food insecurity at the
household level. Although studies conducted in recent times have been able to help
determine and measure the prevalence of malnutrition in infants, young children and
women populations, the magnitude of household food insecurity has not been adequately
measured using a standard household food security scale. Therefore, the gap in
knowledge in this area is undermining the evaluation various nutrition intervention
programmes put in place to mitigate and control malnutrition in the country. Food-based
approach has been identified as a cost effective means of reducing malnutrition.
Biofortification of commonly consumed staples has been one of the proposed strategies
to mitigate and control the problem of hidden hunger. However, the success of such
programme is dependent on how well the staple foods are identified, the quantity and
frequency of consumption are known, and the household food security status is measured.
The Nigeria Food Consumption and Nutrition Survey (NFCNS) conducted in 2001
identified the affordability and availability and frequency of consumption of major
staples consumed in Nigeria. However, the findings of the survey were national in scope;
hence its use in designing targeted intervention programme for a particular socioeconomic
class is limited. It is therefore essential that the level of household food
insecurity be determined using a standard scale, and the staple foods including the
quantity and frequency of their consumption in different socioeconomic classes and
geopolitical zones be identified.
This present study is a response to the need to answer some questions arising from this
trend.
1. What is the prevalence of household food insecurity in the study communities?.
2. Why are they food insecure?
3. What do Nigerians especially of low income status consume as staple foods?
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