Browsing by Author "Brai, B. I. C."

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Assessment of barriers and promoters for the adoption of Orange-fleshed sweet Potato in Kano State, Nigeria
(Nutrition Society of Nigeria, 2023) Ibrahim, D.; Abubakar, S. M.; Brai, B. I. C.; Ariyo, O.; Ajieroh, V.; Owolabi, A. J.
Background and Objectives: Vitamin A deciency (VAD) slows recovery from illnesses and increases the severity of infections like measles and diarrhoeal disease. Vitamin A deciency affects about 30% of children less than 5 years of age in Nigeria. The use of β- carotene biofortied Orange-eshed sweet potato (OFSP) has been recognised as one of the effective, food-based, and nutrition-sensitive agricultural approaches to improve vitamin A intakes. However, the adoption of this biofortied crop merits further study. This research assessed knowledge, attitude and adoption of OFSP among farmers in Kano State. Methods: Data were collected using questionnaire and focus group discussions (FGDs) from 125 respondents from farmers and consumers, in-depth interview was done with stakeholders in ministry of Health and Agriculture, eHealth and CIP, these were selected through purposive and simple random sampling. Mean, frequencies and percentages of data collected were analysed using SPSS (version 22). Results: The questionnaire result shows that OFSP acceptance was <30%, Choice preference showed that majority of farmers and consumers valued the WFSP more than the OFSP. The FGD's result indicates that the factors for promotion of adoption of OFSP include; availability of market niche, affordability, access to OFSP vines, pleasant taste and texture, sensitization on OFSP benets, resistance to pest, improve shelf life and promotion of local vines production system while barriers are the counteracts of the above mentioned. Conclusion: The level of adoption of OFSP in Kano State appeared low (<30%) among the respondents. This calls for efforts in addressing the barriers for the adoption of OFSP.
Effect of counselling and text message reminder on the uptake and adherence of iron and folic acid supplements among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Gwagwalada, Abuja
(Nutrition Society of Nigeria, 2023) Uwatt, E.; Ariyo, O.; Oloyede, J.; Ezekannagha, O.; Owolabi, A. J.; Brai, B. I. C.; Abubakar, S. M.
Background and Objectives: Innovative strategies are required to mitigate poor compliance to iron-folic acid supplementation and associated high burden of anaemia in Nigeria. Objectives: This study was designed to assess how counselling and text message reminders could improve the uptake and adherence to iron-folic acid supplements among Nigerian pregnant women. Methods: The study used a quasi-experimental design with a simple random sampling of 153 respondents equally allocated into three groups; counselling ( A), counselling and text message reminders (B), and control (C). Adherence to the supplements was assessed using pill count and the 8-item Morisky adherence questionnaire. Parametric and nonparametric analyses were utilized to evaluate survey results across the two interventions. Results: Age of respondents (years) was 31.23±5.05, 31.97±5.63 and 26.63±6.25 for Groups A, B and C, respectively. Self-report adherence was 71.96±13.62, 68.02±11.56, and 65.19±11.84 in group B, A and C, respectively. Folic acid adherence was 91.62±7.98, 89.61±8.62, and 88.57±14.10; while iron adherence was 91.29±8.03, 89.36±8.86 and 88.55±14.00 in group B, C and A, respectively. Group A was 2.6 times more likely to have poor folic acid adherence, 4.0 times more likely to have poor iron adherence and 1.6 times more likely to have poor self-report adherence compared to group B. Conclusion: Counselling and text message reminders are more effective than antenatal counselling alone in improving uptake and adherence to iron-folic acid supplements among Nigerian pregnant women. Efforts to prevent iron deciency anaemia among Nigeria women should incorporate counselling and text message reminders to enhance adherence to uptake and adherence to iron-folic acid supplements.
Food Access and Experience of Food Insecurity in Nigerian Households during the COVID-19 Lockdown
(Scientific Research Publishing, 2021) Samuel, F. O.; Eyinla, T. E.; Ariyo, O.; Leshi, O. O.; Brai, B. I. C.; Afolabi, W. A. O.
The food insecurity experiences and related behaviors of Nigerian households during the COVID-19 lockdown have not been fully discussed. This study was conducted to elicit information on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on economic and behavioral patterns related to food access. An online-based semi-structured questionnaire distributed through messaging platforms was used to collect information on characteristics, food purchasing behaviour before and during COVID-19 lockdown among respondents. Experience of food insecurity was assessed using Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). A total of 883 responses were received and analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0. Most of the respondents (90.5%) were at home or had stopped going to work due to COVID-19 restrictions. Even though smaller households had higher food expenditure claims than larger households (p = 0.012), the larger the household, the more acute the challenge of economic access to food (p = 0.050). Location (p = 0.000), age (p = 0.003), occupation (p = 0.014) and income level (p = 0.000) were associated with experience of food insecurity. In conclusion, lockdown restrictions increased food expenditure and experience of food insecurity among the respondents and thus we recommend the probe of longterm consequences of deviations from usual food access on undernutrition or overnutrition in Nigerian households.
Food-related coping strategies adopted by some households during covid-19 lockdown in Nigeria
(Open Journals Nigeria, 2021) Ariyo, O.; Samuel, F. O.; Eyinla, T. E.; Leshi, O. O.; Brai, B. I. C.; Afolabi, W. O.
As part of the measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Nigeria during the early stages of the pandemic, a lockdown of movements within and from outside the country was declared by the federal government. This article presents findings on food-related coping strategies adopted during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. A cross sectional survey using an online based questionnaire received responses from 883 households regarding information on food consumption, health seeking behaviour and food coping strategies during the COVID-19 lockdown. Food Coping Strategy Index (FCSI) was computed from the data received based on standard methods. Analysis and presentation of data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. The key findings show that daily mealtimes generally reduced from an average of 3 to 2 times. The storage capacity of households showed an average of 2-week food stock of staples, and most of the respondents had started reducing either their usual portion sizes or frequency of meals in order to cope with food shortages. As regards health seeking behavior, older respondents were more likely to take prophylactic medication (p<0.004) and there was a higher preference for fruits and Vitamin C as prophylactic items. A negative correlation between FCSI with mealtime during COVID-19 lockdown (p<0.000) and monthly income (p<0.000) was observed. The findings presented provide information for policy intervention in the areas of social safety nets and palliatives disbursement in the event of similar lockdown restrictions in the future.