Nutritional status and adequacy of selected micronutrients of civil servants in Ogun state, Nigeria

Background: Inadequate micronutrient intake can have a negative impact on physical and mental health causing several health consequences. People who are overweight or obese also fails to meet the majority of micronutrient recommendations Objective: This study assessed the nutritional status and adequacy of selected micronutrients of civil servants in Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional in design. The sample consisted of 250 civil servants. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to determine the socio-demographic characteristics, family medical history and nutrition knowledge of the respondents. Nutrient intakes were estimated from 24-hour dietary recall and analyzed using Nutri-Survey software. Anthropometric measurements were carried out to determine nutritional status. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 20. Statistical significance was established at p≤0.05. Results: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 39.2% and 11.6% respectively. One-third (32.8%) of the population were at risk of cardiovascular diseases. Nutrient adequacy of micronutrients assessed were low except phosphorus (89.6%), zinc (86.8%), iron (68.8%) and sodium (50.0%) which were in excess. Macronutrients were above the recommended dietary allowances. A significance association (p<0.05) was observed between some micronutrient adequacy ratio (folic acid, Vitamin A and Vitamin E) and nutritional status assessed by Body Mass Index of the respondents.Conclusion: Micronutrient intake was inadequate and prevalence of overweight and obesity were higher than reported in previous studies. There is a need for nutrition education that emphasizes on the consumption of micronutrient dense foods

Household food access and coping strategies adopted during Covid-19 pandemic lockdown among people residing in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Confinement to flatten curves as a protective measure against the novel corona-virus had made it very difficult for the citizens to have sufficient food to sustain themselves. Objective: This study assessed household's food accessibility and coping strategies adopted during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. Methods: The study was cross-sectional design and 300 households were randomly selected in the Local Government. Data such as socio-demographic, household food insecurity status, and coping strategies were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire, Household food insecurity experience scale, and coping strategies index scale questionnaire. Data were analysed and presented using descriptive and Results: The age of the respondents was between 20-59 years and 60.3% were traders. Food security status showed that 15.7%,50%,14.3% and 20.0% of the respondents were food secure, severely, mildly, and moderately food insecure respectively. The major coping strategies adopted were relied on less preferred and less expensive foods(35%), limited portion size at mealtimes(31.3%), and reduced number of meals eaten in a day(34.3%). A significant association exists between Coping Strategy categories and food security status (P = 0.00). The result on the nutritional status of the respondents revealed that 51.3%, 11.3%, 25.3%, 12%, 59.7%, 14.3% and 32.4% had normal BMI, underweight, overweight, obese, stunted, wasted, and underweight respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity was high and most households adopted coping strategies that leads to higher levels of food insecurity

Nutritional status and micronutrients adequacy of food consumed by adolescents in school in Abeokuta

Background: Micronutrient and nutritional deficiencies remain a serious nutritional problem of significant importance in low-income countries especially Nigeria. Adolescents are vulnerable because they are at a stage of biological and psychological growth and nutrition inadequacy at this stage will have serious nutritional and health consequences. Objectives: The study assessed the nutritional status and micronutrients adequacy of food consumed by adolescents in school in Abeokuta, Ogun state. Materials and Methods: The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional involving multistage sampling for the selection of 200 respondents from public secondary schools in Abeokuta North and South. Data were obtained on socio-demographic, socioeconomic characteristics, nutritional knowledge, nutrients intake and anthropometry of the respondents using a structured self-administered questionnaire, repeated 24-hour dietary recall and standard procedures. Data were analyzed and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical significance was established at p≤0.05 Result and Discussion: Result revealed that majority (94%) of the respondents were within the age range of 14-19years, 42% of the respondents consumed breakfast in school, 57.5%, 37.5% and 5% had good, fair, and poor nutritional knowledge respectively. The nutritional status estimation revealed that 31% of the total respondents were stunted, while 50% were thin. There was significant micronutrient inadequacy of vitamin A, carotene, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, folate, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc.  Conclusion: This study established substantial micronutrients inadequacy and increased prevalence of undernutrition among the study respondents