Assessment of Food Consumption Physical Activity and Nutritional Status of Market Women in Central Market Kaduna

ABSTRACT
This research work was carried out to assess food consumption, physical activity and nutritional status of market women in Central market, Kaduna. The objectives of the study are to determine the socio demographic characteristics of the market women, determine the food patterns of market women, determine the physical activities of market women, determine the anthropometry measurement of market women and to correlate the food consumption and physical activity with the nutritional status of market women. The researcher adopted a multi stage sampling technique. Self-structured questionnaires were used in obtaining the relevant information for the study. 219 questionnaires were administered to the respondents and 217 were retrieved. The data collected were presented and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques in the form of frequency and percentage and results were presented in tables. Findings show thattheir socio-demographic characteristics of market women revealed that 23% of the market women falls within the range of 26 – 30 years which shows the highest frequency while 11% of the market women falls within the range of 46 – 50 years which shows the lowest frequency. In terms of income 42% of market women has the highest amount of income monthly which earn 5,000 – 10,000 monthly considering those with lowest percentage 25% which earn less than 5,000 per month.The education level of the market women show that 59% has secondary certificate, follow by 20% tertiary level and the lowest 21% primary level. The study shows that 59% are married, 15% are widows, 18% are separated and 8% are divorce. Regarding the family size which shows that 42% has the highest family size. Under the food consumption pattern of market women in Kaduna central market shows that 42.85% has poor food consumption pattern, 38.70% are borderline and only 19.43% are eating in an acceptable way. The Body mass index of the market women (BMI) revealed that 17.97% are underweight 18.43% are in normal range, 17.51% are overweight, 9.67% are in obesity class I and 31.33% are in obese class II. The physical activity of the market women of central market Kaduna shows that little amount of the market women has the percentage of 11.9% which are moderate workers in their physical activities, 19.8% are sedentary, 39.6 are heavy workers in their physical activities. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for the market women shows only 41.47% of them has positive energy expenditure, 22.18% are equilibrium energy expenditure and 35.94% has negative energy expenditure. We study therefore recommends that Ministry of Health should promote awareness on the importance of consuming food in an acceptable way.