Water and beverage intake among civil servants in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The quantitative water intake dataset for any country in Sub Sahara Africa is rare, and few published studies have reported quantitative intakes of even other beverages in Nigeria. This study determined the drinking water intake (DWI), quantity, and diversity of Total Beverages Intake (TBI) among civil servants in Southwestern Nigeria according to gender, age, Socioeconomic Status (SES), and Body Mass Index (BMI).

Results: Overall, 62.6% of the respondents were within grade level 7-12; DWI contributed 70% and 72% to TBI of males and females, respectively. TBI also varies between states (p< 0.001) and BMI (p<0.001) but not between SES (p=0.45), age (p=0.57 and sex (p=0.97). The mean DWI by females was higher than the recommendations. However, only 52% of all subjects (53% of all females and 51% of male subjects) had TBI that exceeded fluid intake levels recommended. Overall, the differences between males and females were significant for water intakes (p=0.003).

Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among 300 civil servants (male n=134, female n=166) in four Southwestern states of Nigeria. The main tool for data collection was an Interviewer administered multi-component questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Conclusion: Water from beverages did not meet the International intake levels for almost half (48%) of subjects. The difference in males and females were significant for intakes of water.