CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF VITAMIN A FOOD SOURCES AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN ORUMBA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The study focused on consumption pattern of vitamin A food sources among households. Specifically, the study identified vitamin A food sources and its retinol equivalent available to households; consumption pattern of food categories among the households; vitamin A food consumption pattern of households using diet history (24 – hour diet recall). The population was made up of 91,249 women in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The study was a survey. Questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analysed using percentages. Major findings were that vitamin A food sources were available in Orumba South Local Government Area. The result revealed daily consumption of some food categories like fruits and vegetables, legumes and animal and animal products (34%, 34% and 21.2%) respectively. However, on diet history 20% consume carrot (90 – 3600 retinol equivalents, while 74% consume pumpkinleaf with (300RE) while palm oil was consumed by 94% of the respondent with retinol equivalent of (3000RE). The study concludes that vitamin A food sources were available in Orumba South Local Government Area but consumption of such food was low. The paper recommended that there is need for proper planning, organisation and political will to sustain vitamin A programmes at community level.