Awodele et al.pdf

The menace of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, still persists among rural households in Nigeria. It is paramount to tailor agricultural extension programmes and nutritional intervention to the dietary needs of the rural populace. Hence, this study examines the dietary intake of rural households and the underlying constraints affecting them. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 240 rural households and data was garnered with the aid of interview schedule. Data were analyzed using mean, frequency, percentages, and Pearson product-moment correlation. The intake of micronutrients was lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowance per day. Intake of fat (91.3%), cholesterol (90.0%), and calcium (89.2%) were majorly inadequate. Nutrient adequacy was low for 60.8%. Starchy staples )99.6%) were most consumed, while eggs (17.5%), milk/milk products (9.6%) were least consumed. Average diet diversity score was 4.11±1.13. Consumption of root and tuber (𝑥̅=18.41) was higher compared to cereals (𝑥̅=13.79) and legumes/nuts (𝑥̅=12.13). Dietary intake level was low for 60.0%. Consumption of adequate diet was majorly constrained by low income, high cost of food items and inadequate knowledge. The study concludes that rural households had not been feeding adequately, hence the need for nutrition innovations to guide against unhealthy diets.