KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTION AND INTAKE OF MICRONUTRIENTS (IRON AND FOLIC ACID) AMONG FEMALE CIVIL SERVANTS OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE AT THE OYO STATE SECRETARIAT, IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

The health risk Micronutrient Deficiencies (MNDs) pose to women necessitates continuous monitoring of their dietary intake. MND is a major impediment to socio-economic development contributing to a vicious circle of underdevelopment. It has long ranging effects on health, learning ability and productivity. More than 2 billion people in the world today suffer from MND, where iron deficiency is the most prevalent. The public health importance of these deficiencies lies upon their magnitude and health consequence, so from a public health viewpoint, MND is a concern not just because of the large number of people affected but also because MND, being a risk factor for many diseases can contribute to high rates of morbidity and even mortality. Previous studies conducted on intake of micronutrients among women have focused mainly on pregnant women, thus, there are only few documented studies on knowledge and intake of MNs among WRA. This study was designed to investigate the knowledge, perception and intake of micronutrients (Iron and Folic Acid) among WRA at Oyo State secretariat, Ibadan. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey which employed the use of a multi-stage sampling technique involving four (4) stages to randomly select three hundred and thirty-seven Female Civil Servants. Data were collected using validated semi- structured, self-administered questionnaire. The instrument elicited information on respondents’ socio demographic characteristics, knowledge and perception of MNs, dietary and supplement intake of MNs and also sources of information on MNs. Knowledge of micronutrients was measured on a 30-point scale; scores: 0– 15, >15–25 and >25 were categorised as poor, fair an d good, respectively. An 18-point scale was used for scoring perception where scores ≤ 12 entailed negative perception while scores >12 represented positive perception Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and p< 0.05 was set as the level of significance. Age of the respondents was 35.6 ± 6.9 years, 71.8% were married and majority of the respondents (74.5%) had tertiary education. The overall knowledge of respondents on micronutrient was found at 23.93% (6.9 ± 5.2), almost all of the respondents (97.9%) had poor knowledge while the remaining 2.1% had fair knowledge and none had good knowledge. Most (82.8%) of respondents had a positive perception of micronutrients. Findings revealed that food rich in haem iron, non- haem iron and folic acid were consumed regularly (four or more times in a week) by 31.7%, 19.5% and 50.8% of the respondents, respectively but most respondents (70.3%) regularly took multivitamin supplements. The test for association revealed that there was no significant relationship between respondents’ level of education and knowledge of MNs while there was significant relationship between respondents’ knowledge and intake of MNs It was evident that there was poor knowledge of micronutrient among the respondents coupled with an inadequate intake of dietary micronutrients. Therefore, there is an urgent need for detailed educational intervention aimed at non-pregnant women to tackle this hidden hunger.