Diet Quality and Anthropometric Measurement Of Women Of Reproductive Age (15 To 49) Years In Owerri North Local Government Area Of Imo State, Nigeria:- Nwosu, Ifunanya P

ABSTARCT Diet quality is the adequacy of essential nutrients and energy in supporting bodily functions, promoting well-being, facilitating physical activity, preventing infection, and reducing the risk of diet-related noncommunicable diseases. This study assessed diet quality and anthropometric measurement ofwomen ofreproductive age (15 to 49) years in Owerri North Local GovernmentArea ofImo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study design was .used. Data for analysis were obtained through questionnaire. Data from the questionnaire were analyzed using Chi-Square and correlation. The result showed that, there was a significant (p= < 0.05) negative correlation between diet quality and anthropometric indicators ofthe women ofreproductive age. The result demonstrated that height was positively associated to variable 7 Zobo leaves, afang / okazi, karkashf garden egg leaves, sweet potato leaves and cowpea leaves with a Pearson (r) of 0.159 with a significant level of p = < 0.043 at 5% level of association. This suggests that higher consumption or presence ofthese leaves (zobo, afang/okazi, karkashi, etc.) is weakly but significantly associated with greater height ofthe women ofreproductive age. Weight was negatively associated to variable 3 Sweet potatoes that are white inside, fufu, gari, abacha, yam, lafun, black amala or plantain and variable 13 Cakes, cookies, sweet biscuits, wafers, chin chin, and puff puff with a Pearson (r) of -.187* and -.163* and a significant level of p= <.017 and p= < .037 at 5% level of association. Chi-square test of association between socio-demographic features, showed the women ate semo, couscous, bread, spaghetti, masa, pap, or tuwo / nri-eserese, Porridge, egbo / dambu, corn, or Ofada rice, Sweet potatoes that are white inside, fufu, gari, abacha, yam, lafun, black amala, or plantain, Beans, awara from soy, moin moin, bambara''groundnuts, pigeon peas, African yam beans, or other local beans demonstrated a strong statistically significant association with sociodemographic features of the women with p-value (p = <019). In conclusion, sociodemographic feature has a strong impact on the diet quality ofthe women ofreproductive age and majority of the socio-demographic features has a strong impact on the anthropometric status of the women of reproductive age. Therefore, it is crucial to implement interventions that encompass community-based educational programs that promote healthy eating, interventions that support healthy food choices and increase accessibility of protein rich foods, diary products, legumes and healthcare services to piovide regulai health screenings for women to identify underlying health concerns related to weight management.