Assessment of Extension Workers’ Nutrition Education Competency Level and Training Needs in Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research was carried out to assess the extension workers’ nutrition education competency level and training needs in Katsina state, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to sample 90 extension workers from the three agricultural zones in the state. Seven categories of 49 specific nutrition education competency items were adapted for the study.  A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the sampled respondents. The mean competency rating for each competency item was computed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. A Mean scale to interpret the computed mean values. While mean weight discrepancy score was used to determine the areas of training needed by the extension workers. The findings showed that 85.6% of the respondents were males with a mean age of 44 years. It also revealed that the extension workers had a high level of literacy and vast years of working experience of 20-25 years. In terms of their nutrition education competency level, the findings showed that 71.42% of the extension workers have an average competency level on basic nutrition knowledge, nutritional needs of different household members, Hygiene and sanitation, Post-harvest handling and food safety, as well as on Gender and nutrition.  However, the extension workers were found to have a low competency level in planning and resource allocation for household food security which also featured to be the prioritized area of training needed by the extension workers.  It was finally recommended that nutrition education should be integrated into the extension worker's professional training in the study area.