From Food Access to Dietary Outcomes: Relationship between Food Security and Diet Quality in Nigeria’s Food Belt

Abstract

Background: Food security and diet quality are interlinked but underexplored among farming households in Nigeria. This study used mixed-methods to examine this relationship in Nigeria’s North Central zone, the primary food belt. Methods: Quantitative analysis utilized food insecurity (Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), Food Consumption Score (FCS)) and Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ) data from 951 respondents in the 2023/2024 General Household Survey. Qualitative data were collected through interviews and focus groups with farmers, nutrition desk officers, and community members to capture perceptions of food access, preferences, and coping strategies. Results: Minimum dietary diversity score (DDS) and consumption of all five recommended food groups (All-5) was achieved by 31.1% and 14.2% of respondents, respectively. Prevalence of food insecurity differed by assessment method—44.5% for FIES and 22.2% for FCS. Food insecurity defined by FIES significantly increased odds of DDS (OR: 1.61, 95% CI 1.06 - 2.44), while poor/borderline FCS reduced DDS (OR: 0.22, 95% CI 0.11 - 0.45) and All-5 (OR: 0.20, 95% CI 0.06 - 0.62) odds. Qualitative narratives showed that diets were strongly influenced by agricultural seasonality and limited purchasing power. Coping mechanisms included reduced meal frequency, shift to cheaper staples, and substituting preferred foods with less nutritious alternatives. Conclusion: Farming households faced concurrent food insecurity and poor diet quality. Food security did not always translate to adequate diet quality. Policies must go beyond food access to address optimal diet quality. Differences in the relationship between FIES and FCS and diet quality may reflect different recall periods—30 days, 7 days, and 24 hours for FIES, FCS, and DQQ, re-spectively, and warrant further study.