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THE USE OF PLANTAIN AS A DIET AMONG RURAL HOUSEHOLD

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ABSTRACT

The consumption of plantain plays a significant role in human nutrition. Rural households in Nigeria are more inclined towards taking empty calorie foods with little consideration for healthy foods, especially plantain. This has the tendency of pre-disposing them to obesity, dental caries, and other non-communicable diseases in later years. There is a dearth of information on consumption of plantain as part of healthy eating among youths. This study was therefore designed to determine the use of plantain among rural households in Southern ijaw Local Government Area. This cross-sectional survey involved the use of a four-stage sampling technique in selecting 4 out of 12 wards, 6 villages, 6 rural households and 400 youths who were selected  based on their population from four towns (369 pupils) and two villages (31 households) in SILGA. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide. The questionnaire contained 20-point knowledge and 16-point attitude scales on consumption of plantain. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at 5% level of significance. Qualitative data were content analysed using the thematic approach.

                                              CHAPTER ONE                                                                           INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Plantain contributes immensely in the feeding systems of both human beings and farm animals. It has a very high nutritional value in source of dietary carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Plantains are extremely rich in vitamin A. Plantain is one of the most important staple food crops grown in the sub-tropics of the Africa, Nigeria inclusive. In spite of the consumption of plantains as a staple food; it is also used in the food industries for the manufacture of chips, flakes, cakes, thereby creating important opportunities to the populace directly or indirectly and invariably income for small holder farmers. In Southern Ijaw, plantains are consumed raw with water, soaked garri, fried as dodo, boiled, roasted and can be dried and grounded into flour for feature use.

Nutrition plays a very important role in the well-being of individual. Nutritional needs during adolescence are increased because of the increased growth rate and changes in body composition associated with puberty (Spear 2002; Jenkins & Horner 2005). The dramatic increase in energy and nutrient requirements coincides with other factors that may affect adolescents’ food choices and nutrient intake and thus, nutritional status.

Sound nutrition can play a role in the prevention of several chronic diseases, including obesity, coronary heart disease, certain types of cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes (Shepherd & Dennison, 1996; Dauchet et al, 2006).

National and population-based surveys have found that youths often fail to meet dietary recommendations for overall nutritional status and for specific nutrient intakes (Cavadiniet al, 2000; Kann et al 2013). The low intake of iron and calcium among adolescent girls is of particular concern. Iron deficiency can impair cognitive function and physical performance, and inadequate calcium intake may increase fracture risk during adolescence and the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life (Cavadini et al, 2000; Greer & Krebs 2006).

Records show that plantain is made up of many mineral nutrients that are in organic nature and are formed naturally. (IFAD, 2011). The elements or mineral nutrients play important roles in the biochemical processes in the process of healthy growth and development of this crop. These elements are obtained from the soil and atmosphere with the help of moisture (water) that dissolve them into solution then taken up through the roots (Lahava E. 1995). Elements such as As, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Cl, F, Fe, I, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Se, Si, Sn, V and Zn are found in plantain fruits and vegetables which are essential elements and consumed by human and animals which supplies the body with the required minerals. Plantain is considered to which help in the management of high blood pressure and heart diseases. Additional information emphasizes on the low level of toxic and anti-nutrient substance namely cyanogenic glucosides and gluco alkaloides that plays safe for human consumption.

The value of fatty acids, total trans and cholesterol were all zero in plantain. Furthermore, an in depth study of nutrients in plantain was carried out by scholars with the following results in nutrient value and percent recommended daily allowances(RDA) ; energy 122kcal, 6%; carbohydrate 31.89g, 24.5%; protein 1.30g, 2%; total fat 0.37g, 2%; cholesterol o mg, 0%; dietary fire 2.30g, 6%; folates 22μg, 5.5%; niacin 0.686mg, 4%; pyridoxine 0.299mg, 23%; Riboflavin 0.054mg, 4%; vitamin A 1127 iu, 37.5%; vitamin C 18.4mg, 31%; vitamin E 0.14mg, 1%; vitamin K 0.7 μg, 1%; sodium 4mg, < 1%; potassium 499mg, 10.6%; calcium 3mg, < 0.5%; iron 0.60mg, 7.5%; magnesium 37mg, 9%; phosphorus 34mg, 5% and zinc 0.14mg, 1%.(USDA 2017).

Most plantains are produced by small scale farmers in Ijaw who often do not have the financial resources for sustained production by means of the application of chemical fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides. Most of these farmers attached little premium to the foregoing, and thus apply less, with the belief that plantain can always produce for itself with little organic manure derived from kitchen and animal remains. On the other hand, Black sigatoka disease (a leaf spot plantain/banana disease) has reduced production resulting in acute scarcity of the crops with a resultant high cost of the fruits. Yield loss of up to 50% and more were recorded making the disease a major threat to the farm economy in west and central Africa (Jeger et al, 1995).

Plantain meal is an important food source and easily digestible with constituents such as water 10.62%, albuminoids 3.35%, fat 1.15%, carbohydrates 81.67% (more than 2/3 starch),fibre 1.15%, phosphates 0.26% sugar (sucrose) 1.60% high content of vitamin C and potassium (Chung M.J. et al, 2007). Vitamin A (fresh ripe plantain) is an antioxidant that plays valuable role in visual cycle, maintaining healthy mucosa and enhances skin complexion. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) in plantain is very important in the treatment of neutritis, anemia and decrease homocysteine (one of the causative factors for coronary artery disease and stroke episodes) in the body. While very high level of vitamin C help to develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals, but if boiled and cooked the level of this vitamin is drastically reduced (Umesh Rudrappa 2009-17). It is in the light of the above listed benefits of plantain that this study is aimed at assessing the use of plantain as a diet among rural household in southern Ijaw local government area.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Lack of dietary diversity is however, a major nutritional concern among deprived people from developing countries like Nigeria. Changing from a monotonous diet to one with varied food types has been shown to improve energy and nutrient intakes in people from developing countries. Youths in southern ijaw are faced with a plethora of food choices that challenge their ability to consume a healthful diet (Ehrens& Weber, 2009). Although prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, it is faster in developing countries due to declining levels of physical activity as well as nutrition transition characterized by a trend towards consumption of a diet high in fat, sugar and refined foods and low in fibre(Ogden et al; 2014). Current evidence revealed a clear transition of increasing proportions of overweight/obesity in rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a similar, but less prominent trend towards increasing proportions of obesity over time (Muthuri et al, 2014). This transition to higher proportions of overweight/obesity is similar to observed trends in developed countries.

Past studies on plantain consumption in Nigeria (such as Ibrahim, 2011, Banwat et al, 2012, Layade, 2014) have been among the adult populace. Ibrahim, 2011, investigated fruit response efficacy and fruit consumption among a group of civil servants of Bayelsa state; Banwat et al, 2012, considered the knowledge and intake of plantain consumption among adults in an urban community in North Central Nigeria and Layade 2014, focused on plantain consumption among youths of tertiary institutions in Bayelsa state but no work has been done on assessing the use of plantain as a diet among rural household in southern ijaw local government area.

1.3 Justification

Over the years, more research focus has been on food consumption pattern of adolescents, and there is limited information on adolescents‘ eating habits as regards consumption of plantain. There is a dearth of information on consumption of plantain as part of healthy eating among rural households. Moreover the level of knowledge of adolescents on the health benefits of plantain and the reasons adduced for consumption of plantain among rural household in Nigeria are not known, as very few local studies on consumption of plantain are available.

Therefore, this study will focus on the use of plantain as a diet among rural households in southern Ijaw, and findings from this study will add to knowledge, and will also be beneficial in forming health policies that will promote healthy eating behaviour and overall good nutrition among adolescents.

1.4 Research Questions

This study provided answers to the following questions:

  1. What is the level of knowledge of rural households in southern Ijaw on the health benefits of consumption of plantain?
    1. What are the attitudes of rural households in southern Ijaw towards consumption of plantain?
    1. What is the frequency of consumption of plantain among rural households in southern Ijaw?
    1. What are the reasons adduced for consumption of plantain among rural households in southern Ijaw?

1.5        Broad Objective

The broad objective of this study was to investigate the use of plantain among rural households in southern Ijaw.

1.6        Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of this study were:

1.          To assess the level of knowledge of rural households in southern Ijaw on the health benefits of consumption of plantain.

2.          To determine the attitudes of rural households in southern Ijaw towards consumption of plantain.

3.          To deduce the frequency of consumption of plantain of rural households in southern Ijaw.

4.          To identify the reasons adduced for consumption of plantain among rural households in southern Ijaw.

1.7        Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were tested by this study:

1.          There is no association between the age of respondents and the knowledge of health benefits of consumption of plantain;

2.          There is no association between the ethnic groups of adolescents and the frequency of consumption of plantain;

3. There is no association between the sex of respondents and knowledge of health benefits of consumption of plantain.

1.8 Scope and limitation of the study

This research which is titled the use of plantain as a diet among rural households in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state is focused on assessing the dietary practices of households within the case study. The study will cover six villages within the local government area. The researcher was limited by two major constraints during the course of this study; financial and time constraints. It is due to the limited nature of this factors that the researcher could not cover the entire study area.

1.9 Definition of terms

Diet: In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. The word diet often implies the use of specific intake of nutrition for health or weight-management reasons (with the two often being related).

Dieting: Managing consumption of food and drink with the intent to lose, gain or maintain weight.

Food Insufficiency: Food insufficiency is when an individual or a family has limited access to or availability of food or a limited or uncertain ability to acquire food in socially acceptable ways (Jyoti et al., 2005).

Obesity: Obesity is when the BMI is at or above the 95th percentile for children/adults of the same weight and sex (CDC, 2000).

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