ABSTRACT
Background: Nutrition is an important factor in health and disease. Good nutrition, promotes healthy growth, survival and various stages of development. Dietary intake patterns plays a significant role in human health. Consumption of a variety of foods from various food groups (dietary diversity) has been found to be beneficial for human health. Improper and inadequate dietary intake pattern especially in women of reproductive age have resulted in the deficiency of essential nutrients especially during pregnancy and lactation.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the dietary pattern and nutritional status of women of child bearing age in Benin City.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used for this study among women of child bearing age in Benin City. A multistage sampling technique was used, to select 561 women of child bearing age. A pre-tested, structured, interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics, dietary pattern, and factors associated with dietary patterns and nutritional status of women of women of child bearing age, Anthropometric measurements were also taken. Dietary diversity score (DDS) was categorized into low, medium and high dietary diversity score. Data was analyzed using IBSM SPSS version 21 and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: A total of 561 women of child bearing age participated in this study. Majority of the respondents were in the age group 25 to 34 years with a median (IQR) age of 30 (18 to 36) years. The highest proportion of the respondents ate meats and poultry 546(97.3%), condiments and seasonings 541 (96.4%), fish and seafood 541 (96.4%), white roots and tubers and plantains 521(92.9), sugar sweetened beverages 521 (92.9%), 556 (99.1%) ate food made from grains , pulses 451 (80.4%), milk and milk products 431 (76.8%), eggs 431 (76.8%), sweets 397 (70.8%), nuts and seeds 371 (66.1%), other fruit 170 (30.3%), Fifteen (2.7%) of the respondents had a low DDS while 265 (47.2%) had a medium DDS and 281 (50.1%) had a high DDS. Two hundred and thirty-eight (42.4%) respondents and 481 (85.7%) of the respondents had normal weight and a normal waist and hip ratio, respectively. Twenty five (71.4%) of the respondents who were in the age group of 45-49 had a high dietary diversity score compared with respondents 55(29.6%) in the age group of 15-24 and this was statistically significant (p<0.001). One hundred and forty-five (63.0%) of those who were married had high dietary diversity score compared with 136(41.1%) who were not married and this was statistically significant, (p<0.001).One hundred and twenty-five (65.8%) respondents in the monogamous family type had a high dietary diversity score, compared to respondents in the polygamous family type 25(62.5%), but this was not statistically significant, (p=0.228).
One hundred and thirty-seven (73.7%) of those in the age-group 15-24 years had normal BMI compared to 15(10.4%) of those in the age-group 35-44 years who had normal BMI, (p<0.001). Two hundred and three (61.3%) of respondents who were not married had normal BMI compared to 35 (15.2%) of those who were married; 82 (24.8%) respondents who were not married were overweight compared to 95(41.3%) who were married. Twenty one (6.3%) respondents who were not married were obese compared to 90(39.1%) who were married. It was statistically significant, p<0.001. The association between dietary diversity score and BMI was statistically significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Majority of the study respondents had high dietary diversity score. Over half of the respondents had normal WHR while less than half had normal BMI. Age, marital status, employment status, presence of garden, highest level of education and monthly income showed significant association with WHR.
Keywords: Nutritional status, Dietary Diversity, Women of child bearing age, Benin City.
