Household food security and dietary diversity in south-eastern Nigeria

The aim of this study was to investigate household food security (access) level and the dietary diversity of households in the Nsukka Local Government Area in South-eastern Nigeria. From 20 local communities of Nsukka, 390 women were randomly sampled from the women's group and asked to complete a survey that determined the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale scores and the Household Dietary Diversity Scores (HDDS). The descriptive results indicated a high level of food insecurity with 82.6% households reporting various degrees of food insecurity. Over half of the sampled population experienced insufficient food quality. They either ate unwanted food (65.9%), limited variety (63.1%), or unpreferred food (64.6%). Some households experienced insufficient food intake by going a whole day without food (38.2%), go to sleep hungry (45.1%), or have no food of any kind (49%). The analysis of variance showed no significant difference (p = 0.428) in the food security level of households headed by males as compared with those headed by females. Approximately 53.6% of households fell at or below the average HDDS; males headed 48% of these households, while females headed 64%. The chi-square test indicated factors associated with household food security including age, education, work status and income, whereas the gender of the household head, household size and marital status were not significantly associated. Public-private partnerships, nutrition orientation and food intervention programs could improve food security in this area. High household food insecurity (82.6%) exists in Nsukka Local Government Area. Food security was associated with education, age, income and work status. Urgent food intervention programs are required to alleviate food insecurity.image This study found a high level of household food insecurity in Nsukka Local Government Area (NLGA) at 82.6%, with 60.3% of households being severely food insecure and 13.3% and 9% mildly and moderately food insecure, respectively, resulting in anxiety for most households.The majority ate limited variety, unwanted and unpreferred food, with more households consuming starchy foods than protein-rich foods. About 53.6% households fell at or below average dietary diversity.There was no difference in household food security based on the gender of the household head.Food security was associated with education, age, income and work status.Rural households within NLGA require food intervention programs to alleviate food insecurity.