Effects of Locally Produced and Consumed Vegetables on Anthropometric Indices and Micronutrient Intakes of Preschoolers in Vegetables Home Garden Households in Owerri Municipality

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of vegetable home garden on anthropometric indices and micronutrient intakes of preschoolers in households producing and consuming vegetables in Owerri Municipality.
 Methodology: Anthropometric measurements of 90 preschoolers aged 4 months- 60months were taken from 76 vegetables home garden households (VHGH) and 52 preschoolers from 39 non vegetable home garden households (NVHGH). Growth deviations from median, percentage prevalence and severities of under nutrition were calculated bases on the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference. Also calculated were mean daily food nutrient intakes and adequacy ratios using food composition table.
 Associations between anthropometric indicators of the preschoolers and levels of micronutrient intakes were assessed. Significance of differences was determined by Chi-Square and students t-test.
 Results: On average the nutrient adequacy ratios of both males and females were lower than requirements in iron, riboflavin, and niacin in both households. However, the growth deviations of the preschoolers were above median - <2SD but higher in preschoolers in VHGH than their counterparts. The differences in the growth deviations were significant and highest in the age group 48 – 60months in both households but higher in VHGH than in NVHGH. There were significant associations between the anthropometric indices of the preschoolers and the levels of micronutrient intakes in VHGH.
 Conclusions: Preschoolers in VHGH that produced and consumed home produced vegetables had better anthropometric indices and micronutrient intakes than their counterparts. Vegetables home garden practices in urban areas should be encouraged to alleviate the problem of micronutrient deficiencies in preschoolers.