THE IMPACT OF FUELWOOD SUPPLY ON THE NUTRITION AND HEALTH STATUS OF RURAL DWELLERS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

The rapid appraisal method was used to determine the impact of fuelwood supply on the nutrition and health status of rural dwellers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Fuelwood sources and supply were defined; species utilized as well as respondents’ species preference were specified. Respondents’ cooking frequency was identified. The relative abundance of the species identified either as being used or preferred were determined. Group interviews were conducted in each community in order to define group consensus on the parameters stated above. Key informants were identified and interviewed to provide secondary information on the supply pattern, nutritional status of the dwellers and the relationship between fuelwood supply pattern and nutritional status of the dwellers. Results obtained revealed that all the respondents were fuelwood mindedness and their socio-economic features were not regarded as prerequisites to their consciousness. 92% of the respondents assented to the use of fuelwood which they sourced mostly from the forest. Gross deficits abounded in other sources utilized. Proximity, rather than species preference, determines the species used for fuel. A total of 54 tree and 2 shrub species, all belonging to 24 families, were found to be used for fuel during the study. Some of the respondents had reduced their cooking frequencies due to difficulties experienced in sourcing for fuelwood. The bulk of foods consumed were carbohydrates as foods rich in protein were perceived as those that require more cooking time and hence more fuelwood. A survey of endangered foods in the study area that was carried out, and ranked, revealed that, out of 10 under-prepared foods, those that ranked 1 to 4,were being neglected basically due to their fuelwood requirements. The illness reported at the health centres in the study area was ranked with malaria being dominant. The relationships between fuelwood scarcity and the occurrences of the diseases were defined and strategies that would ameliorate the present conditions were proposed.