Nutritional Status and Nutrient Adequacy of Food Consumed by Commercial Drivers in Abeokuta South Local Govt Area, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: The nutritional status and adequacy of nutrients in the food consumed by commercial drivers have significant implications for their overall health, well-being, and job performance. Aims: The study assessed the nutritional status and nutrient adequacy of food consumed by commercial drivers in Abeokuta South Local Government area, Ogun State. Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to carry out this study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Major Parks of Abeokuta South Local Government from November 2019 to February 2020. Methodology: The data was obtained from randomly selected three hundred (300) commercial drivers in the major parks (Asero, Ijaiye, Kuti, and Sapon) of Abeokuta South Local Government. A structured-interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data on the respondent’s demographics and socioeconomic characteristics, anthropometrics characteristics were assessed using a standardized method by trained anthropometrists, and the dietary intake of the respondents was obtained using a validated 24-hour recall questionnaire. Data were analyzed and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: All (100%) of the respondents were males with a mean age of 38.7±0.49 years. The mean height and weight of the respondents were found to be 1.68±0.86 m and 68.50±8.47 kg respectively. More than half (59.7%) of the respondents had a normal BMI, 34.3% and 0.3% were overweight and obese respectively and only a few (5.7%) were underweight. The nutrient adequacy results revealed inadequacies of Vitamin C (83.3%), Vitamin B1 (66.7%), Vitamin B6 (79.3%), Calcium (89.3%), Zinc (53.3%), and Magnesium (70.7%). Conclusion: It is concluded that overweight, obesity, and micronutrients inadequacy is prevalent among commercial drivers. Malnutrition and micronutrient inadequacy among commercial drivers should be recognized as a public health problem and strategies to improve their status and nutrient intake should be implemented.