IMPACT OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE OF MARKET WOMEN IN EDE TOWN, OSUN STATE

Dietary choices continue to be influence nutritional and health status of individuals. Nutrition knowledge is one of the factors that affect nutrition status and habits of individuals, families and societies. Women are key stakeholders in homes and nation building through their economic activities in various markets. This study explores the impact of socioeconomic characteristics on nutritional status and nutritional knowledge of selected market women in Ede town, Osun State. The cross-sectional study involved two hundred and fifty (250) market women who were randomly selected in Ede town, of Osun state. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from respondents. Information collected included socio-economic, and nutritional status, while association between socio-economic characteristics and nutritional status of the respondents was determined. Descriptive (mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (Chi-square was used to determine associations) were used to summarize data. Data collected were analyzed using as SPSS version 23. Socio-economic characteristics results showed that, majority (38.0%) of the respondents were between the ages of 21-30 year and (3.6%) above 50 years. Also, (56.4%) were married, (55.6%) earned above ₦50,000 while (8.0%) earned between ₦21,000-₦35,000. Educational qualification showed (26.4%) had primary school certificate while (4.8%) had HND. The mean anthropometry weight and height for above 50 years, below 20 years were (69.00±11.124) weight, (1.586±0.767) height and (59.91±13.315) for weight, (1.5838±0.0631) for height respectively. Also, Body Mass Index (BMI) results indicated that (11.2%) underweight, (47.2%) normal weight, (25.6.0%) overweight and (16.0%) obese. Significant association (p<0.05) exits between BMI and age and also between anthropometric measurements (weight) and age. It could be concluded that overweight and obesity is on the high side among market women in Ede town and dietary control may be more effective in the treatment of obesity.