Demographic Characteristics and Dietary Pattern of the Elderly in Ondo State, Nigeria

Objective: To investigate the demographic characteristics and dietary patterns of elderly adults (>60 years) in Ondo State, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a random sampling of 400 elderly individuals (>60 years) living in Ondo State, Nigeria. Data on demographic and non-demographic variable characteristics, including food habits, dietary patterns and food frequency, were collected using an open-ended and structured questionnaire. Results: Most individuals aged 60‐69 years were married, with fewer than 25% having primary education and the majority of the remainder having no formal education. Most were employed in farming and their income was low (<200 USD per month). About 80% ate three meals daily, 25% skipped meals, and 39% avoid certain foods and 87% had favorite food which relates significantly with gender ( χ 2 =7.2; p<0.05) marital status (χ 2 =5.7; p<0.05) and health (rate of falling sick). Dietary pattern was significantly associated with body ailments ( χ 2 =51.9; p<0.05). Certain habits, such as alcohol ingestion, influenced the number of meals ( χ 2 =10; p<0.05). Memory loss was significantly associated with skipping meals ( χ 2 =7.2; p<0.05), whereas depression was significantly associated with the number of meals ( χ 2 =6.2; p<0.05). A logistic regression model found that educational level, occupation and gender were significant independent predictors of