ABSTRACT
The study investigated the relationship between food security, nutritional status and poverty
alleviation coping strategies of low income households of selected Federal tertiary
institutions in Kaduna state, Nigeria. Specific objectives were to determine food security
status in terms of food availability, accessibility, and consumption pattern; establish
nutritional status using anthropometric and 24-hours recall dietary intake; determine poverty
alleviation strategies used by low-income households; examine income and nutritional status
of low-income households of Federal tertiary institutions of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The study
used descriptive survey design with questionnaire and personal interviews to obtain data.
Data obtained were analyzed using, frequency, percentage, means, Pearson Product Moments
of Correlation, regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that
most household heads between ages 36–45 years (32.4%) and 46–55 years (32%) were
dominant among low income households in selected Federal tertiary institutions in Kaduna
State. Also, most (53.4%) respondents had between 5 and 12 adults‟ living together and
capable of providing adequate food for their households, majority (61%) had no educational
qualification beyond West African School Certificate. Most adequately available food items
to the low income households in Federal tertiary institutions in Kaduna State were
legumes/pulse/vegetables (69.4%), followed by fruits (mangoes, guava and others), roots and
tubers/cereals (38%: yams, bread, tuwon). Cereals and cereals products (maize, sorghum and
millets) were most accessible and consumed and attracted highest mean accessibility of 5.97
and mean consumption level of 4.333. Least accessed and consumed food items were meat
(beef, goat meat and others) 4.09, fish and eggs that attracted least mean consumption level
of 2.99 for the low income households. Data also revealed that 243(59%) of adults were
healthy compared to 166 (41%) that were either acutely malnourished, moderate malnutrition
or those at risk, as a consequence of their consumption pattern. Majority (64%) of the low
income households of some Federal tertiary institutions in Kaduna State acquired land for
agricultural activities through purchase, short-term lease or loan for agricultural production,
as a preferred poverty alleviation strategy to mitigate shortfalls of income for households to
be food secured. Also, significant relationship between income and nutritional status of
respondent showed household members with higher income having higher nutritional status.
The study therefore concluded that majority (60%) of households in selected Federal tertiary
institutions in Kaduna State were food secured more on cereals/cereal products, adequate in
nutritional status and adopted agricultural activities for poverty alleviation coping strategies
to augment low income status and poverty conditions. Food secured household conditions
would result in an improved food availability, accessibility and good nutritional status of the
low income households of selected Federal tertiary Institutions in Kaduna state. The study
recommended among others that, low-income households should explore proteinous sources
of food like meat, fish, milk and legume crops to balance for the available cereal and cereal
products. Low-income households should explore other means of generating income like
poultry production, fish production, large production and purchase of grains and vegetables
for sale during time of financial stress.
