ABSTRACT

This study was conducted in Umuahia North L.G.A of Abia State to assess the food security and coping strategies of adolescent secondary day students. The respondents were made up of 290 students. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on their social-economic status, food security situation and coping strategies. Results showed that majority of the respondents households (26%) earned between N70, 000 and N90,000 per month, followed by (24%) who earned between N30,001 and N50,000. The lowest proportion of the respondents (12%) were those who had income between N50,001 and N70,000. The average income of respondents in this study is N61,333. Findings from the food security situation of the respondents showed that majority of the respondents responded in affirmative that they lack food for the past 3 months. This shows high level of food scarcity among adolescent. The study from the household food security status revealed that a greater proportion of the respondents (88%) indicated that they had experienced food scarcity at some point in their family, which is an indication of food insecurity, only about (12%) of the respondents’ individual absence of food scarcity. Households were profiled into food secure and food insecure groups based on their food scarcity status. Also from the household food security status, (54%) indicated that they sometimes eat what they don't like because it is what is available/affordable, followed by (36%, 10%, 0.67%) that indicated always, rarely, and never. This implies a high level of food insecurity in the study area. According to the result of the ranking of the coping strategies, respondents are perceived to mostly cut down on food and other expenditures as a way of coping with food insecurity. This ranks 1st in the list and is followed by borrowing money from friends and families which ranks 2nd. The households also reduce number of meals consumed per day and this ranks 3rd. The households also reduce number of meals consumed per day and this rank 3rd. Also findings from the coping strategies of the respondents show that. Hunting for wild fruits and vegetables was the 4th strategy while sale of family livestock and buying food on credit were the 5th and 6th strategies employed by these households. Other strategies include pledging some items to get money, working for people in order to get paid and begging for food or money these ranks 7th, 8th and 9th respectively. In conclusion, there was a strong implication for the health and performance of these students and their entire households as well as the national economy and is capable of increasing the level of school dropout on the side of the student and a dwindling economic growth for the nation.