ASSESSMENT OF AWARENESS ON HEALTH BENEFITS OF SOME HORTICULTURAL PLANTS BY WOMEN HOUSEHOLD CONSUMERS IN FUNTUA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the awareness on health benefits of some horticultural plants by women household consumers in Funtua Local Government area of Katsina State. Five out of 10 wards in the area were conveniently selected using simple random sampling techniques. One hundred women households were randomly selected for the study. Primary data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaires. Data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Correlation test analysis. The results revealed that the women household consumers were within the productive age with the mean of 30 years of age, married with mean household size of 6 persons. Their level of education was high and most of them were full-time house wives. The study revealed that 77% of the women household consumers were aware of the health benefits of some horticultural plants. About 74% cooked the horticultural plants before consumption and the common horticultural plants found are leafy vegetables such as spinach, Maringa and lettuce while onion, tomatoes and pepper were consumed by all the women households. The constraints were spoilage 11% and diarrhea 1%. The relationship between some selected socioeconomic characteristics of the women households’ consumers and the awareness of the health benefits of horticultural plants was found to be significant. Women households’ consumers should be encouraged to cultivate horticultural plants. Also, there is need for training on proper handling, storage, preservation and utilization of these horticultural plants to reduce spoilage were offered as recommendations.