Article

STRATEGIES FOR EXTENDING NUTRITION EDUCATION TO RURAL NIGERIAN FAMILIES UNDER CHANGING SOCIO‐ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

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Abstract

Nigeria, like other countries faced with balance of payment difficulties and fall in commodity prices, started implementing a World Bank-sponsored structural adjustment program (SAP) as a strategy for economic recovery and growth. Available evidence has shown that the SAP has lowered real income value and increased malnutrition due to inaccessibility of the poor to nutritious food, with resultant nutritional consequences. Nutrition Education has been acknowledged as the most important method of combating malnutrition in developing countries, as it is possible to improve nutrient intake of individuals despite the absence of improvement in their status.This paper discusses the strategies of extending nutrition education to different groups in rural Nigeria taking into consideration local custom, food production pattern, post-harvest handling of agricultural produce, extent of malnutrition and the dietary needs of different age groups. The paper stresses the importance of the potential dietary changes to be within the economic resources of the rural families as this is critical to the effectiveness of the education program.

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... It is noteworthy, that most of the nutrition information retrieved from these platforms is based on foreign food items and might not be from qualified professionals [63,64], thereby promoting unhealthy feeding practices among low-income earners who cannot afford them yet neglect available indigenous nutrient-dense staples which are tagged 'food for the poor' [65]. Also, most of the information is usually void of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) therefore, it is not adaptable to local contents of the utilization of neglected nutrient-dense staples, and vegetables which are readily available in many localities but unexplored or well consumed [34,55,66]. It has been reported that to improve the food security and health status of indigenous peoples, there must be the promotion of cultural strength and inclusion of traditional food systems [67,68]. ...
... Sources of nutrition information and the target audience greatly determine the credibility and receptibility of such information. This is because nutrition information from sources such as online platforms has been reported not to contain local content or indigenous food for rural dwellers and middle-and low-class citizens to incorporate readily in meals [66]. Secondly, most of the information in the media promotes westernised food above indigenous nutrientdense diets which are often not pocket-friendly, hence such food environments or food systems are not sustainable for enhancing nutrition security and optimal health outcomes among women from resource-limited households [70]. ...
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Objective This study explores the contribution of nutrition knowledge to the health status of pre-school children’s mothers in Niger State, North-Central, Nigeria. Design The study is a descriptive cross-sectional design using a quantitative data collection method. Setting/participants A multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 450 mothers of pre-school children across Niger state, Nigeria. Chi-square and linear regression were used to test the level of statistical significance (at p < 0.05). Socioeconomic and demographic information, anthropometric indices and nutrition knowledge were obtained using semi-structured questionnaires. Feeding patterns were also assessed using a qualitative 7-day dietary recall. Result The results showed that the majority (63.8%) of the mothers were within 26–35 years, and more than half (51.6%) of the mothers lacked knowledge of a “balanced diet”. Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products were the least consumed food group among the mothers (7.1% and 9.1%, respectively). Place of residence, occupation, and method of waste disposal were significantly associated with maternal minimum dietary diversity adequacy (p<0.05). Over half (57.6%) of the mothers were within the normal BMI range, and the mean waist/hip ratio was 0.82± 0.08. Social media/online was the most (36.4%) explored source of nutrition information among the mothers. This study shows no significant association between nutrition knowledge and adequacy of minimum dietary diversity among the mothers of preschool children (p = 0.09, χ² = 13.682). Conclusion Dietary diversity among mothers was associated with the socioeconomic status and BMI of the mothers, which were strong determinants of meal quality and health outcomes in Nigeria and other developing countries experiencing food insecurity.
... Vegetables are known to be the cheapest source of Vitamins especially the water soluble vitamins and micro nutrients. To this effect, there has been advocacy group of questions which were twelve in number for extension of nutrition education to different groups in rural area in Nigeria taking into consideration local custom, food production pattern, post-harvest handling of agricultural produce and extent of malnutrition and the dietary needs of different age groups (Sylvester et al., 1991). A regional workshop at the African Institute for Capacity Development, Juja, Nairobi, in December 6-9, 2005 focused extensively on developing African leafy vegetables for improved nutrition. ...
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PIP Faced with balance of payment problems, declining commodity prices, and a corresponding reduction in foreign exchange earnings, Nigeria implemented a structural adjustment program in 1986. This step was taken in response to encouragement from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and was aimed to accomplish the following: find the true value of the official currency; overcome public sector inefficiency through improved public expenditure and parastatal rationalization; reschedule medium- and long-term debt to relieve debt burden; and encourage net foreign capital inflow while limiting foreign loans. Implementing and adhering to these macroeconomic adjustment policies has brought unprecedented inflation, lower real earnings, and increased malnutrition among lower income sectors of the population. The poor have suffered diminishing access to nutritious foods. Conscribed access to food and compromised nutritional status will most likely persist into the 1990s unless corrective policies are adopted. Appropriate policy would aim to increase the poor's access to food and limit population growth.
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