ENGINEERING STUDIES OF NUTRITIONAL NEEDS AND COPING MEASURES FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract

The study investigated the coping measuresutilized by low income earners in Nigeria in the recentglobal period of economic meltdown. The populationcomprised of married working women who earn low income.The sample of 200 women from four states (Delta, Edo,Ekiti, Oshun States) was randomly selected from variousoccupational groups. Questionnaire was used for datacollection. The data were analyzed using percentage, mean,standard deviation and variance. Results showed that thewomen used the following measures to cope with the highcost of feeding: Consumption of more of foods in season;practicing home gardening, planning for effective utilizationof feeding money, purchasing of foodstuffs from villagemarket or stores where prices are relatively low andadequate bargaining before purchasing foodstuffs. Somewomen preserve some foodstuffs to prevent wastage. It wasrecommended that Home Economists/Nutritionists shouldteach the women other effective survival strategies formeeting their families’ nutritional needs.

Index Terms - Purchasing measures, Foods in season,survival strategies, Convenience foods, Consumption,Nutritional needs