ABSTRACT
This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of market women in Ubani, Urugba and Ahieke market in Umuahia North Local government of Abia State. The cross-sectional survey was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of 307 market women from the selected market. A well-structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-economic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice profile of the market women. Data were analyzed using frequency (F), percentage (%), mean, standard deviation (SD) and chi-square, respectively. Significance was accepted at P<0.05. The result of the study revealed that 40.1% of the market women were within the age group of 30 years and majority (84.7%) of the market women were Christians, while few (7.5% and 7.8%) were Muslim and traditional believers. 80.8% of the market women have heard information about benefit of fruit and vegetables, and their source of information includes radio/television, community workers, internets e.t.c. The result of the knowledge profile of fruit and vegetable consumption showed that majority (94.5%) of the market women had poor knowledge about fruit consumption and few (5.5%) had average knowledge based on their knowledge grade. The result also showed that more than half (61.2% and 57.7%) of the market women were positive towards both positive and negative statement about fruit and vegetable consumption. The fruit and vegetable consumption frequency showed that only few of the market women consume fruit and vegetable more than six times in a week. The chi-square test showed that socio-economic status of the market does not significantly affect the knowledge of the market women toward fruit and vegetable consumption, respectively.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title
Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table
of contents v
List
of tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Statement of problem 3
1.2 Objectives of the study 4
1.3 Significance of the study 5
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW 6
2.1 Meaning of fruit and vegetables 6
2.2 Importance of fruit and vegetables 6
2.3 Factors affecting fruit and vegetables 8
2.4 Nutrient composition of fruit and
vegetables 9
2.4.1 Major minerals in fruit and vegetables and
their function 12
2.5 Phytochemical in fruit and vegetables 18
2.6 Nutritional Knowledge of market women 22
2.7 Factors affecting nutritional knowledge
of market women 22
CHAPTER 3
MATERIALS AND
METHODS 23
3.1 Area of study 23
3.2 Study design 23
3.3 Population of the study 24
3.4 Sampling and sampling techniques 24
3.4.1 Sample size calculation 24
3.4.2 Sampling procedure 25
3.5 Preliminary activities 25
3.5.1 Preliminary visit 25
3.5.2 Ethical consideration 25
3.5.3 Training of the research assistant 25
3.6 Data collection 26
3.6.1 Questionnaire administration 26
3.7 Data analysis 26
3.8 Statistical analysis 27
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION 28
4.1 Personal information of market women 28
4.2 Awareness of the market women on the
benefit of fruits 30
4.3 Awareness of the market women on the
benefit of vegetables 31
4.4 Knowledge of market women about fruit
consumption 32
4.5 Knowledge of market women about vegetable
consumption 34
4.6 Attitude of market women towards fruit
consumption 36
4.7 Attitude of market women towards vegetable
consumption 38
4.8 Practice of market women towards fruit
consumption 40
4.9 Fruit frequency consumption 42
4.10 Practice of vegetables consumption of
market women 43
4.11 Vegetable frequency consumption 45
4.12 Relationship between socio-economic
characteristic and knowledge grade of fruit consumption of market women 46
4.13 Relationship between socio-economic
characteristic and knowledge grade of vegetable consumption of market women 47
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION 48
5.1 Conclusion 48
5.2 Recommendation 48
REFERENCES 49
APPENDIX
LIST OF TABLES
2.1 Mineral composition of selected fruit 25
2.2 Mineral composition of selected
vegetables 26
4.1 Socio-economic characteristics of market
women 29
4.2 Awareness of the market women on the
benefit of fruits 30
4.3 Awareness of the market women on the
benefit of vegetables 31
4.4 Knowledge of market women about fruit
consumption 33
4.5 Knowledge of market women about vegetable
consumption 35
4.6 Attitude of market women towards fruit
consumption 37
4.7 Attitude of market women towards
vegetable consumption 39
4.8 Practice of market women towards fruit
consumption 41
4.9 Fruit frequency consumption 42
4.10 Practice of vegetables consumption of
market women 44
4.11 Vegetable frequency consumption 45
4.12 Relationship between socio-economic
characteristic and knowledge grade of fruit consumption of market women 46
4.13 Relationship between socio-economic
characteristic and knowledge grade of vegetable consumption of market women 47
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
A healthy diet, including a daily
consumption of 400-500g of fruits and vegetables, is known to play an important
role in prevention of chronic disease (WHO/FAO, 2003). Most prospective
students have consistently shown approximately 10%-25% lower all-cause
mortality when comparing people with high and low fruit and vegetables
consumption (Bazzano et al., 2002). Vegetables are sources of many nutrients,
especially potassium, folate, the antioxidant vitamins A and E. These nutrients
help support body function in many ways, which make vegetables important
components of a healthy diet. For example, potassium helps to maintain health
blood pressure, folate (folic acid) help with red blood cell production,
vitamin A enhances immune function, and vitamin E protect cells from free
radicals.
Vegetables are edible parts of
plants that are consumed whole or in parts, raw or cooked as part of main dish.
The tropical and sub-tropical countries of the world are blessed with varieties
of vegetables some of which are domesticated, while others grow wild and their
prices are relatively affordable when compared with other food items in the
areas (Schippers, 2000; Uzuegbu and Eke, 2000; Okaka et al., 2010).
Fruit and vegetable consumption are
crucial to the availability of micronutrients to the body. Apart from providing micronutrients, fruits
and vegetables are also known to provide dietary fibers (soluble and insoluble)
which are vital for the optimal functioning of the gastro-intestinal tract.
They also enable the body to use other nutrients required for its normal
functioning (like the energy from fats and carbohydrates) (Park, 2005).
Regular consumption of fruits and
vegetables is associated with a countless number of health benefits.
Consequently, fruit and vegetable consumption is crucial to the availability of
micronutrients to the body. Although required in small proportions, vitamins
and minerals are a needed part of the daily diet as the human body is not able
to synthesize them in sufficient amounts to meet the nutritionally recommended
allowances (Park, 2005).
In the last four decades, there are
indications of partial shifts from staple food towards vegetable, oil and sugar
in low and lower middle-income countries like Nigeria while there is a shift
toward vegetable, oil and meat in higher income countries (Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO); World Health Organisation (WHO), 2004)
Countries were advised to set up
vegetable promotion initiative with the aim of increasing intakes to140 g
serving vegetable per day for children and up to 400 g serving per day for
adults (WHO, 2005). The effort of fruits and vegetable promotion initiatives is
to meet fruit and vegetable consumers’ needs and preferences, increasing
consumer awareness of the benefits of diets rich in vegetables, diversification
of vegetable production, understanding consumer expectation in taste, texture,
form, price convenience, quality and safety attributes (Ndie, 2010).
However, inadequate consumption of
fruits and vegetables is said to be responsible for cardiovascular diseases and
some types of cancers; several studies have demonstrated significant protective
effects of intake of fruits and vegetables against cancer. It has estimated
that at least 35% of cancer deaths may be attributable to unhealthy diets (lock
et AL., 2005). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that low fruit and
vegetable consumptions contribute to approximately 2.7 million deaths per year
from chronic diseases, 11% of cardiovascular accidents (CVA) and 31% of
Ischemic Heart Diseases (IHD), worldwide (Ruel et al., 2004; Banwat et al.,
2012 ).
Low consumption of fruits and
vegetables has also been ranked the sixth major risk factor for mortality in
the world (Ruel et al., 2004). The
incidences of these chronic diseases are also increasing in developing
countries (Hill, 2011), largely due to their life style and dietary changes.
The high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries has
been attributed to the low knowledge of the nutritional value of these fruits
and vegetables as well as their low consumption, despite their relative
availability and cultural acceptance in these settings (Ruel et al., 2004; Hart et al., 2005).
1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Incidence of non-communicable and chronic
diseases especially cancers and
cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are also increasing in developing
countries, largely due to the life style and dietary changes (Maiyaki and
Garbati, 2014). Diet‑related diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension,
CVD, and cancer are on the increase in Nigeria (Hill, 2011).
In 2013, the WHO estimated that
approximately 5.2 million deaths worldwide are attributable to low fruit and
vegetable consumption (WHO, 2015). The low consumption of fruits and vegetables
globally (below the above requirement) is said to be responsible for the
increased incidence of CVDs and cancers (WHO electronic library for nutrition
actions, 2015); the two leading causes of death worldwide (Wang et al., 2015). Increased consumption of
fruits and vegetables has been recommended as a key component of a healthy diet
for the prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases (Wang et al.,2015).
The actual quantity consumed tends
to be less, and it was recommended that fruits and vegetable intake should be
flexible and adequate in local circumstances, because of wide variability of
dietary pattern, vegetable availability, food preferences and cultural
consideration of food. Research has shown that vegetable consumption is low is
such Saharan Africa (27 to 114 kg/capita/year) which is below the WHO/FAO
recommendation of 146 kg/capita/year (WHO, 2005).
Ndie et al. (2013) reported in their research carried out in the south
eastern region of Nigeria that South East diet is low in vegetable intake per
day. For example, an individual who consumed a mixed vegetable soup for lunch
and boiled rice or yam with vegetable at dinner has consumed 250 g per day
(Ndie et al., 2013). This is still
lower than 400 g/day recommended by WHO (2005). The consequences of low intake
of fruits and vegetables are as follows: it causes high incidence of chronic
diseases such as obesity. It can also lead to cardiovascular events (Daucher et al., 2005; He et al., 2006).
Irrefutably, fruits and vegetable
consumption is of supreme importance in the prevention of chronic diseases and
the prevention of hidden hunger because of their mineral and vitamin
contents. Promoting fruits and vegetable
consumption among population most especially the young adults is key in the
prevention procedure. Observational studies showed that little or no research
work have been done hence the need to, carry out this study.
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general objective is to evaluate
the knowledge, attitude and practice of market women in Umuahia North towards
fruits and vegetables consumption.
The specific objectives are to:
1.
Assess the knowledge of market women towards the consumption of fruits
and vegetables.
2.
Determine the attitude of market women towards consumption of fruit and
vegetables.
3. Determine fruit and vegetable
consumption pattern among market women
4. Establish a relationship between
nutritional knowledge of the market women and their socio-economic
characteristics
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
These findings will contribute to
already existing knowledge by providing vital information for the Federal
Government of Nigeria, as well as the ministry of health regarding the current
status of fruit and vegetable consumption among Mother especially market women
in the country and could thus stimulate actions geared at further fostering
fruit and vegetable consumption.
The World Health Organization,
United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund and other international
health/nutrition organizations will also benefit from this study as the
findings will be insightful concerning the progress of efforts towards
promoting fruit and vegetables consumption. These findings could thus form a
background data for programs to further encourage fruits and vegetables
consumption among Nigerian women. Nutrition professionals will benefit from
this study as it will add to the available findings on fruits and vegetable
knowledge, attitude and consumption among market women and subsequently, it
could stimulate curiosity and interest in researchers to engage in further
studies regarding fruits and vegetables, thus creating a more in-depth and
detailed knowledge based on fruit and vegetable consumption in Nigeria.
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