ABSTRACT

This Study assessed the effect of UNICEF-Assisted Nutrition Programme on the nutritional status of rural women in Abia State. Primary data were used. Three out of the seventeen Local Government Areas of the state were randomly selected, and a total of 120 respondents were used for the study. Questionnaire and personal interview were employed in data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, Z test, Body Mass Index and Ordinary Least Squares multiple regression analysis. The results showed that majority (62.0%) of the beneficiaries were women within the age bracket of 26-35 years. Farming was the major occupation of majority (80.0%) of the respondents. The beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the programme earned average annual income ofN288, 000.00 and N172, 000.00 respectively. The programme packages identified include micro-nutrients intake in pregnancy, malaria prevention, key household health practices (KHHP), and dietary diversification, others are vaccination against tetanus and care for pregnant women. Majority (57.1%) of the beneficiaries and 25.8% of the non-beneficiaries became aware of the programme through the community counsellors. Majority (6 1.7%) of the beneficiaries participated very actively in vaccination against tetanus. Classification of the respondents according to their Body Mass Index (BMI) showed that 93.3% of the beneficiaries and 50.0% of the non-beneficiaries were having high nutritional status. Comparative analysis of the nutritional status of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the UNICEF-assisted nutrition programme using Z test showed the nutritional status of beneficiaries being significantly different from and higher than that of the non-beneficiaries (Zca1 1.52 142 at 1%). The analysis on effect of the UNICEF- Assisted nutrition programme on the nutritional status of the rural women of Abia State using multiple regression analysis showed that the coefficients of age, education, income and the UNICEF-assisted programme positively affected the nutritional status of the beneficiaries while the coefficient of household size negatively affected the respondents' nutritional status. The study recommended an increase in the number of rural women who would benefit from the programme. Secondly, the use of beneficiaries of the programme packages as community counsellors to sensitize other women as they would serve as motivational base and source of encouragement to them.