ABSTRACT
The study assessed the consumption pattern of protein foods among rural households in Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the rural households, ascertained the major protein foods, determined the frequency of consumption of protein foods, ascertained the preference pattern of protein food consumption, ascertained the preferred mode of consumption of protein food, ascertained the common perception on protein food consumption, identified the proportion of income spent on protein food per households. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 180 rural households. Primary data used were collected using structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean scores and multiple regression analysis. The study showed that the mean age of the respondents was 50 years. Majority of the rural households (96.7%) were married. 52.8% of the rural households had secondary education. The respondents had mean household size of 6 persons, mean monthly estimated income of N61438.89 and while the mean monthly estimated expenditure on food of the rural households was N31988.8. From the study, the grand mean animal and plant protein consumption of 4.62 and 4.38 respectively, which are higher than the bench mark score of 4.00 implies that rural households in the study area frequently consumed animal and plant protein food sources. Fish ( = 5.83), pork ( = 5.49), snail ( = 5.30), and egg ( = 4.85) were the frequently consumed animal protein foods. While dry cowpea (bean) ( = 5.23), groundnut ( = 4.89), soybean ( = 4.69), and okpa ( = 4.40) were the frequently consumed plant protein foods by rural households. The rural households had positive preference for the animal and plant protein foods with grand mean score of 3.43 and 3.38 respectively. The rural households had negative perception on animal and plant protein consumption with grand mean score of perception of animal and plant protein consumption of 1.89 and 2.06 respectively. The mean expenditure on animal protein was N19, 073.56, this constituted 71.56% of the total protein expenditure. The mean expenditure on plant protein was N7581.67, and constituted 28.44% of the total protein expenditure. The coefficient of age (-2.236), educational level (2.157), income level (2.312) significantly influenced frequency consumption of animal protein food. While age (-2.148), marital status (2.092), educational level (2.297), income level (2.251) significantly influenced frequency consumption of plant protein food. Moreover, sex (3.060), educational level (2.664), household size (-2.581), income (11.838) and membership to cooperative (-1.887) significantly influenced the proportion of income spent on animal protein food. While educational level (2.010), household size (2.728), income (8.796) significantly influenced the proportion of income spent on plant protein food. The study concludes that rural households have positive preference of both plant and animal proteins foods. Intensified nutritional enlightenment campaign, encouraging rural households incorporate readily available and affordable animal protein sources, and assisting rural dwellers diversify their investments to reduce poverty were recommended.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
Page i
Declaration ii
Dedication iii
Certification iv
Acknowledgment v
Table of Content iv
List of Tables ix
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Information 1
1.2 Problem Statement 3
1.3 Research
Questions 4
1.4 Objectives
of the Study 5
1.5 Hypothesis
Testing 5
1.6 Significance of the Study 6
1.7 Scope of the Study 7
1.8 Definition
of Terms 7
CHAPTER 2 LITREATURE REVIEW
2.1 Conceptual Review 9
2.1.1
Concept of agriculture in Nigeria 10
2.1.2 Problems of agriculture in Nigeria 11
2.1.3 Livestock industry in Nigeria 14
2.1.4 Socio-economic importance of Nigeria’s macro
livestock industry 17
2.2 Empirical
Review 18
2.2.1 Expenditure
on animal proteins consumed by households 18
2.3 Theoretical
Framework 19
2.3.1 Theory
of consumers’ behavior 19
2.3.2 Maslow’s,
theory 19
2.4
Conceptual Framework 21
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study
Area 24
3.2 Population
of the Study 25
3.3.
Sample and Sampling
Procedure 25
3.4. Method
of Data Collection 25
3.5. Validity
of Instrument 26
3.6. Data
Analysis 26
3.7.
Measurement of Variables 26
3.9 Model
Specification 28
CHAPTER
4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1
Socio-Economic Characteristic of
Respondents 37
4.2 Major Protein Sources in
the Study Area 40
4.3
Protein Consumption among Rural Farm
Household 42
4.4
Preference Pattern of Animal Protein
Consumption 46
4.5
Preferred
Mode of Consumption of Protein 49
4.6
Common Perception on Protein 51
4.7 Proportion of
Income Spent on Protein 55
4.8 Socio-Cultural
Factors Affecting Consumption of Protein Sources 57
4.9
Hypotheses Testing 60
CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY, CONCULSION AND
RECOMNENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 77
5.2 Conclusions
80
5.3 Recommendations 82
References 83
Appendices 85
LIST
OF TABLES
4.1:
Distribution of rural households according
to the selected
socio-economic
characteristics of the rural households in Abia State 37
4.2a:
Distribution of the rural households
according to their major animal protein sources 40
4.2b:
Distribution of the rural households
according to their major plant protein sources 41
4.3a:
Frequency of animal protein consumption among
household 42
4.3b:
Frequency of plant protein consumption
among household 44
4.4a: Preference
pattern of animal protein consumption 46
4.4b:
Preference pattern of plant protein
consumption 47
4.5a:
Households’ preferred mode of consumption
of animal protein 49
4.5b: Households’ preferred mode of consumption of
plant protein 50
4.6a:
Households perception on animal protein
consumption 51
4.6b:
Households perception on plant protein
consumption 53
4.7a:
Households’ monthly expenditure on
animal protein sources 55
4.7b:
Households’ monthly expenditure on
plant protein Sources 56
4.8a: Distribution
of rural households according to their responses on socio-cultural
factors affecting consumption of animal protein food 57
4.8b: Distribution
of rural households according to their responses on socio-cultural
factors affecting consumption of plant protein food 58
4.9: Relationship between the socio-economic
characteristics of the rural households and their frequency
consumption of animal protein 60
4.10: Relationship between the socio-economic
characteristics of the rural households
and their frequency consumption of plant protein 63
4.11: Relationship between the socio-economic
characteristics of the rural households
and the proportion of income spent on animal protein 66
4.12: Relationship between the socio-economic
characteristics of the rural
households and the proportion of income spent on plant protein 69
4.13: Relationship between the household factors
affecting consumption and the
frequency of consumption of animal protein 71
4.14: Relationship between the household factors
affecting consumption and the frequency
of consumption of plant protein 74
LIST OF FIGURES
2.1: Maslow’s hierarchical theory of human need 20
2.2: Conceptual framework on assessment of preference and selected
protein consumption pattern among rural households in Abia State, Nigeria 21
CHAPTER
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In
most developing countries agriculture is the most important economic activity
providing food, employment, foreign exchange and raw material for industries.
In Nigeria, agriculture plays a major role in the country’s economy.
Agriculture contributes 40% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs
about 70% of the working population in Nigeria (Central Intelligence Agency,
2012). Agriculture is also the largest economic activity in the rural area
where almost 50% of the population lives. Information and knowledge is
paramount to the development of any nation and for agriculture to thrive well
it must be built on the power of information. Agriculture is the backbone of
the Nigerian economy and the main source of income for the vast majority of the
rural population (Salkia and Barman, 2013).
The
food supply in Nigeria is not distributed fairly across the nation or even
among households at times. A sizable section of the population, especially
youngsters, do not consume a balanced diet to guarantee physical development
and health. Most people take the bare minimum of calories, but they do not
obtain the necessary amounts of protein, critical vitamins, and minerals for
living a healthy life (Onyeneke and Nwaiwu, 2012).
Malnutrition is still widespread in
Nigeria due to the decline in protein intake occasioned by the scarcity and
unaffordable price of animal protein food sources such as milk, egg, meat and Fish
(Adekunmi et al, 2017). Nigeria like many other developing countries is faced
with a worsening situation of inadequate protein consumption. The
Nigerian population may not necessarily be at the point of starvation but
definitely, the people are highly undernourished.
Amino
acids are the building blocks of protein, which are the main structural
elements of all bodily cells. Proteins can serve as hormones, membrane
transporters, and enzymes (Ekwe, 2019). There are two categories of amino acids
in relation to the human body: Essential and Nonessential. The body can produce
non-essential amino acids from other molecules that make up the body. Since
essential amino acids cannot be produced, eating is the only way to obtain
them. About 22 amino acids make up protein, eight of which are necessary
because the body cannot make them on its own.
Therefore,
they must be obtained from food consumed (Adetunji and Adepojo, 2011). All
bodily tissues need protein to develop, maintain, and repair themselves. The
building blocks of muscles, skin, bone, hair, heart, teeth, blood, and the
brain, as well as the trillions of biochemical reactions that take place in the
body every minute, are proteins. Protein intake must be adequate to prevent
tissues and blood from becoming overly alkaline or acidic (Adetunji and
Adepojo, 2011). Lack of dietary protein can hinder growth in both children and
adults, as well as contribute to persistent weariness, depression, the
inability to heal wounds quickly, and a decreased susceptibility to disease (Ekwe,
2019).
In
Nigeria, an adult's daily minimal need for crude protein is thought to be
between 65 and 85 g. However, it is advised that animal products should account
for 35g of this minimum requirement (Ekwe, 2019).
Protein
content is generally higher in animal foods than in plant foods. According to Anu
et al, (2017), meat and cereals are the two most important sources of
proteins. Throughout the developed world,
meat is the main source of protein, where as in the developing countries,
cereals is the main source. They also stated
that meat consumption is influenced by religious taboos and is positively
correlated with income. Many researchers had reported that increase in
the demand for livestock products is mainly due to human population growth,
income growth and urbanization.
The
demand for cattle products is influenced by socioeconomic variables,
health-related issues, and shifting sociocultural norms. As a result,
understanding customer preferences is essential for creating and putting into
practice effective tactics for improving livestock. According to World Bank
report of 2009, consumption of livestock products are growing slowly or
stagnating, although at high levels in developed countries. Taboos, culture, traditions, and customs all have a
big impact on how people consume particular kinds of meat (Johnson et al,
2011). Complete proteins are typically used to describe animal proteins.
As
contrast to plant proteins, which are deficient in one or more of these
essential amino acids, they include all the amino acids required by the
organism (Usman 2015).
1.2 PROBLEM
STATEMENT
Nigeria
is faced with inadequate food supply, poor income and lack of proper education
on food selection. This problem leads to malnutrition, a consequence of
unbalanced diet which in turn leads to poor physique and low energy output.
Nutritional related diseases thus occur with consequences in reduced
productivity. It has been shown that most people
consume the bare minimum of calories while neglecting to obtain the appropriate
amounts of protein, critical vitamins, and minerals for living a healthy life. A
healthy adult with nutritionally adequate diet has a higher level of economic
productivity in both own-farm production and the labor market than those who eat
inadequate nutrition diet (Mubarak et al, 2016). The
minimum daily need for crude protein for an adult in Nigeria is thought to be
between 65 and 85g. However, it is advised that animal products should account
for 35g of this minimum requirement (Ekwe, 2019).
It
is well-known that Nigeria’s per capita intake of high-quality protein is too low. Even in Abia State
Nigeria, there are observable incidence of
infant mortality, low resistance to diseases, poor child growth and
development, mental retardation common among children of rural household which results from a lack of protein in the diets.
An adult needs approximately 3,500
calories and 50grams of protein per day; a one-year-old child needs about 1000
calories and 15grams of protein per day. Yet, these quantities of essential
nutrients are deficient in the diets of many rural household in Nigeria who
consume mostly staples of grains such as maize , without adequate nutritional
supplements, Thus, dependence on these staples cause malnutrition especially
among resource-poor households (Ekwe, 2019).
The
deficiency of protein in the diet will invariably affect the income generating
ability, manpower development and overall contribution to the nation’s Gross
Domestic Product. All the while, the level of frequency, pattern and mode of
consumption of protein food in Abia State, Nigeria has not been known and
empirically established. There is therefore the need to fill the gap of
shortage of empirical evidence of the status of protein consumption in the area
especially among the resource poor rural dwellers. This can only be done by
assessing the consumption pattern of protein food among rural households in Abia
state, hence the study.
1.3
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions guided the
study:
1. What are the
socio-economic characteristics of the rural households?
2. What are the major protein foods consumed by the
households?
3. What are the frequency patterns of protein food
consumption?
4. What are the preference patterns of protein food
consumption?
5. What are the preferred mode of consumption of
protein foods?
6. What are the common perception on protein foods?
7. What are the proportion of income spent on protein
foods by the rural households?
8. What are the socio-cultural factors affecting
consumption pattern of protein foods in the study area?
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE
STUDY
The broad objective of
this study was to assess consumption pattern of protein foods among rural
households in Abia state. The specific objectives of the study were to:
i.
describe the
socio-economic characteristics of the rural households;
ii. ascertain the major protein foods consumed by the households;
iii. determine the frequency of consumption of protein foods;
iv. ascertain the preference patterns of protein food consumption;
v. ascertain the preferred mode of consumption of protein foods;
vi. ascertain the common perception on protein foods consumption;
vii. identify the proportion of income spent on protein foods per
household; and
viii. identify the socio-cultural factors affecting consumption of
protein foods in the study area.
1.5 HYPOTHESES TESTING
The following hypotheses were tested;
H01: There is no significant relationship between
the socio-economic characteristics of the rural households and their frequency
consumption of animal protein foods.
H02: There is no significant
relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the rural households
and their frequency consumption of plant protein foods.
H03: There is no significant relationship between
the socio-economic characteristics of the rural households and the proportion
of income spent on animal protein foods.
H04: There is no significant relationship between
the socio-economic characteristics of the rural households and the proportion
of income spent on plant protein foods.
H05: There is no significant relationship between
the socio-cultural factors and their frequency consumption of animal protein
foods.
H06: There is no significant relationship between
the socio-cultural factors and their frequency consumption of plant protein
foods.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY
The findings of this
study will be of immense benefit to all agricultural extension and other
stakeholders. Also, rural households stands to benefit as they will be
furnished with adequate information on protein, which also maintain and build
up the body.
The study will give
insight on the protein foods available and mostly preferred and consumed in the
study area. This may serve as a useful guide to concerned organizations and
agencies in formulating programme and schemes aimed at improving the
nutritional standard of the people.
Moreover, the study will
reveal the perception of the people on protein foods consumption. This may
serve as a baseline in organizing an enlightenment and awareness campaign
programme for the people on proper dietary pattern.
Furthermore, the study
will give insight on the socio-cultural factors affecting consumption of
protein foods. This may serve as a useful guide to government and development
agencies in policies and programme towards addressing the nutritional problem
of the people.
Finally, the study will
serve as a useful document and reference book to students, researchers and
other scholars who may want to conduct other similar research.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focus mainly on
consumption pattern of protein foods among rural households in Abia state.
There are many protein in Nigeria, but the study focus on both animal and plant
protein. Animal protein: beef (cow meat), fish, chicken, goat meat snail, pork,
egg, milk, bush meat, and crayfish. Plant protein: dry cowpea (beans), green
cowpea (akidi), soy bean, okpa, pigeon pea (fiofio), groundnut, odudu, bread
fruit (ukwa).
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Assessment: Assessment is the methodical foundation for drawing
conclusions about students' learning and growth. To improve students' learning
and growth, it entails defining, picking, designing, compiling, analyzing,
interpreting, and using information.
Preference: preference
the fact that you like something or someone more than another thing or person. E.g.
I have a preference for animal protein food over plant protein food.
Consumption pattern:
The process by which people search, purchase and consume products in a way to
meet all their needs or desires.
Protein:
Proteins are the major structural components of all cells of the body and amino
acids are the building blocks of protein. Proteins
can serve as hormones, membrane transporters, and enzymes (Ekwe, 2019).
Rural Area:
This is a geographical area situated outside urban setting with low population
density and agriculture is their major source of livelihood.
Household:
This comprises people who live in one house and share resources together as one
united entity. A household comprises one person living alone or a group of
people living at the same address, sharing their meals together.
Rural household:
Rural household is the main actor in the rural space, owner of the main
(natural, human, economic, cultural) resources which it uses at its own
discretion and whose behavior is crucial to the
society to which it belongs
Login To Comment