PRELIMINARY STUDY ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOOD AND NUTRITION INDICES AND COVID-19 DURING LOCKDOWN IN SAGAMU TOWNSHIP

Abstract

Nutrition and COVID -19 are intrinsically related. The roles of some micronutrients and normal
nutritional status in reducing the risk of infections by viruses leading to mortality have been
suggested. It is important to document how the lockdown has impacted the nutritional indices like
living circumstances and loss of jobs, supply, purchase, storage, preparation, and consumption of food
in our environment. Five hundred and Fifty (550) questionnaires were administered to eleven-wards
in the local government using non- probability quota-convenient sampling. A total of 550 participated
in the study. The majority were females (60.20%) with most of them within the age range of 21-30
years (27.64%). 94.7% of the respondents indicated that the prices of food increased during the
lockdown. Similarly, 91.5% said they spent more on feeding and were unable to store meat, fish, and
fresh produce (69.6%). There was a strong positive correlation (P<0.05, r = 0.813) between the
COVID-19 lockdown and the eating habits of respondents. Similarly, there was a strong impact of
respondent's occupation on change in the number of meals consumed during this period. (p< 0.05, r =
0.789). A lot of socioeconomic activities were largely affected the respondent's businesses were
affected by the lockdown in different ways (66.9%) Most of the respondents had to turn to their
Extended family (42.7%), Churches/Mosques (10.2 %), friends and neighbors' (21.3%) for financial
assistance to cope with expenses during the lockdown. COVID -19 partial lockdown in Sagamu town
has strongly affected the nutritional indices of people living in Sagamu Township. This study
therefore recommends government intervention in the provision of certain nutritional supplements to
residents of Sagamu coupled with public seminars to educate the residents of Sagamu township on the
benefits of the intake nutritional supplements in ensuring their general health, wellbeing and
improved immunity to the COVID-19 disease.