Nutritional Knowledge and Factors Determining Food Purchase Practices of Rural Women in Southwest, Nigeria
Published by: Admin
Authors: N R B Modum, A S Onosanya and A M Agbelemoge
Abstract
The present study investigated nutritional knowledge and factors determining food purchase practices of the rural women in Southwest, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed, selecting 50 per cent of states, Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) zones, functional blocks, and 30 per cent of contract female farmers within each block, yielding a total sample of 301 respondents. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources, with reliability assessed via test-retest and split-half methods, yielding acceptable Cronbach’s Alpha values (0.8). The results revealed respondents demonstrated generally high nutritional knowledge, particularly in basic nutrients, and other areas of nutrition, yet 57.9 per cent had high overall knowledge, with gaps regarding micronutrient functions and effects of high-fat or sweet diets on child development. Common food purchase practices included taking inventory before shopping (98.7%), checking expiry dates (90.7%), and buying from local markets (93.4%). Factors such as included affordability 96.3 per cent, readily available, 95.3 per cent, health benefit 94.0 per cent and quality 93.3 per cent enhanced food purchase practices. Nutritional knowledge significantly improved purchase decisions, planning balanced diets (78.4%), and reducing disease risks, while statistical analyses revealed that training (χ² = 3.927, p = 0.048), number of children (r = 0.197, p = 0.041), family size (r = 0.200, p = 0.038), occupation (χ² = 24.453, p = 0.000), age (r = –0.415, p = 0.000), annual income (r = –0.259, p = 0.004), and money spent outside the home (r = 0.259, p = 0.004) were significant predictors of nutritional knowledge across the states. It concluded that nutritional knowledge markedly enhances food selection, dietary planning, and purchase practices and recommended the implementation of targeted nutrition education, improved access to resources, and support for care giving roles to optimize household nutrition and community health outcomes in the study area.