Women's knowledge of the nutritional benefits and perceived constraints in soybean utilization in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated women's knowledge of the nutritional benefits of soybean and its implication for the nutritional status of households in Oyo state. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 129 women for the study. Data were collected via interview schedule on the socio-economic characteristics of women, their knowledge of nutritional benefit of soybean, awareness of soybean by-products and perceived constraints in the utilisation of soybean. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential (Chi-square) statistic. Results show that women have little knowledge of the nutritional benefits of soybean and majority do not know the by-products of soybean. Major constraints in the utilisation of soybean as identified by the women were high perishability of it products (92.2%), lack of knowledge of its processing (84.5%) and lack of market for its product (69%) among others. Significant relationship exists between education (x²=31.494, p=0.000), crops processed (x²=63.990, p=0.000) and knowledge of nutritional benefit of soybean. It is therefore recommended that awareness be increased on the nutritional benefit of soybean using different medium of information dissemination as this will help increase women's knowledge of the nutritional benefit of soybean and its products, prevent malnutrition, reduce infant mortality and increase the nutritional status of rural household.