ABSTRACT

Food security is a central priority of international policy as one of the world’s most significantly urgent target to achieve. It is considered the most pressing issues in many countries, with Nigeria inclusive, the degree of food security representing the level of self-sufficiency and well-being of the citizens. Food security is built on four pillars; availability, access, utilization and stability. Food can never be entirely safe. Food safety is threatened by numerous pathogens that cause a variety of foodborne diseases which significantly leads to individual un-wellness. A sustainable food system supports food security, makes optimal use of natural and human resources, is culturally acceptable and accessible, environmentally sound and economically fair and viable, and provides the consumer with nutritionally adequate, safe, healthy and affordable food for present and future generations.  This study assessed the Prevalence of malnutrition in Ikwuano L.G.A of Abia state. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the study sample. Four communities was used. Households were the respondents and were randomly selected which makes the total of 218. Structured and validated questionnaires were used in data collection. Data collection included the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the respondents, the dietary diversity score were ascertained using 24Hrs dietary recall, BMI of the respondents were taken, the food security level of the respondent was equally ascertained. Data obtained from this study were analyzed using descriptive statistics - frequency, percentages and pearson's correlation. The statistical software SPSS version 22 was used for analysis, cross tabulation and chi square analysis were used to examine the relationship between the variables. Significance was accepted at P<0.05. This study revealed that 117 of the respondents were male while 101 were female. The food security level of the respondents shows 9.8% of the respondents are food secured 23.8% were mildly food insecure, 41.2% were moderately food insecure, 25.2% of the respondents were severely food insecure. There was a significant relationship between the socio-demographic characteristics and the level of food security of the respondents. Community nutrition should be organized by the government in order to enlighten the populace on nutrition and health eating Government should work towards ensuring that the average citizen is food secure. Nutrition education is needed to enlighten people on the importance of dietary diversity.