ABSTRACT

 The study explored the accessibility of culturally relevant foods in households in rural areas of Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. Four hundred and ten (410) respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 'the respondents. Umuahia North L.G.A was purposively selected. In the first stage, four (4) council wards was randomly selected using a balloting without replacement techniques out of the 12 wards in Umuahia North L.G.A (Ohuhu) which are Afugiri ward, Nkwoachara ward, Nkwoegwu ward, and Umuhu ward. The second stage involved the random selection of three (3) communities from each selected ward. In the third stage, thirty five (35) households was selected from each ofthe selected communities giving a total of 410 households and respondents for the study area. A structured questionnaire was also used to elicit information on their socio-economic status, available cultural relevant foods and their accessibility, Food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the consumption pattern of foods and food security questionnaire was used to assess level of food security. Regression analysis was used to determine the socio-economic determinant of cultural relevant food accessibility. The result showed that more than half (65%) of the respondents were above 61 years. Based on the sex of the respondents a little above half (53.4%) were females and (57.1%) were married. The results showed that (25.5%) ofthe respondents income ranged from N30,000-44 40,000. Majority (90.7%) ofthe respondents still observe certain food tradition. New yam festival was the tradition still observed by the community. Based on reserved food for special occasion ofe achara was a reserved food by majority (94.6%) of the respondents. More than half 65.6% of the respondents were moderately food insecured. The study showed that cereal and cereal products, roots and tubers were consumed more by the respondents. The study showed that there was a significant relationship (p

<0.05) between old adult and ofe achara. The study showed that there was a negative significant relationship (p><0.05) between income and ofe achara, ji nmirioku and ofe oha. The study also showed that there was a significant relationship (p><0.05) between income and ofe ugu and banga soup. Based on the findings, recommendations was made that there should be promotion of these culturally relevant foods should be encouraged to grow more ofthem.>