MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was a descriptive survey comprising 100 women of child bearing age (15-45 years) attending Akpuoga Nike Health Centre in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria. Convenience non probability sampling method was used to select the sample size.

Researchers’ developed questionnaire and focus group discussions were instruments used for data collection. The Likert’s five point scale was used for the attitudinal validity. Its reliability was tested through test re-test method and correlation coefficient test yielded.0.89 at 0.5 level of significance (r = 0.89).

A total of 100 questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed.

The group means±SD were calculated and significant difference between means evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Post test analysis was done using the Tukey-Krammer multiple comparison tests. Values of P < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

Table 1 shows the age distribution of respondents, 70% of the respondents are within the age range of 25-34 years. While 60% of respondents have no formal education, 10% of them had tertiary education (Table 2). Majority of the respondents are involved in trading (58%) as shown in Table 3. Seventy percent of the respondents earn N 20,000.00 and below, while only 10% have an income of 31,000 and above as shown (Table 4). Sixty percent (60%) of the respondents agreed that they feed their babies with soy bean products while 40% indicated that they have never used any form of soy bean products in the nutrition of their children. The respondents in their mean rating agreed that soy bean has positive features like being accessible, cheap and nutritive and a good alternative of protein (Table 5a).

Table 1:	Age distribution of respondents

Table 2:	Educational level of respondents

Table 3:	Occupation of respondents

Table 4:	Respondents’ income

Table 5a:	Mean rating responses to positive features of soy bean products

Table 5b:	Mean rating responses to features of soy bean products according to age

Table 5c:	Mean rating responses to positive features of soy bean products according to educational status
ANOVA Test of

Table 5d:	Mean rating responses to positive features of soy bean products according to occupation

Table 5e:	Mean rating responses to positive features of soy bean products according to their status of income.

Table 6a:	Mean rating responses to negative features of soy bean products

Table 6b:	Mean rating responses to negative features of soy bean products according o age

Table 6c:	Mean rating responses to negative features of soy bean products according to educational level

Table 6d:	Mean rating responses to negative features of soy bean products according to occupation

Table 6e:	Mean rating responses to negative features of soy bean products according to their income status

ANOVA tests showed significant differences (P < 0.5) in their mean rating to the positive features in terms of Age (Table 5b); Educational status (Table 5c); occupation (Table 5d) and Income (Table 5e), respectively.

The respondents in their mean rating also agreed that soy bean has negative features (Table 6a). According to their rating, soy bean is not easy to prepare, has foul odor and taste, causes abdominal flatulence, stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting. ANOVA tests showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in their mean rating to the negative features in terms of Age (Table 6b); Educational level (Table 6c) and occupation (Table 6d), respectively; but no significant difference (P < 0.05) in terms of income (Table 6e).

DISCUSSION

This descriptive survey examined the need for mothers to use soy bean products as a cheap alternative source of protein in their child nutrition.

From the respondents’ mean rating to positive features of soy bean products, soy bean has positive features like being cheap, accessible, a good alternative to protein and is nutritive. This result supports the findings of Abiodun (1991) who found that soy beans products are of high nutritive value and readily available at a cheap rate. Also the finding is in line with the findings of Quak and Tan (1998) who observed that Asian mothers prefer to use soy products during weaning because of its availability, soft consistency and high nutritional value.

The subjects however disagreed to the therapeutic effect of soy bean products as evidenced in their mean rating. This result differs from the findings of Abiodun (1991) who found that commercially available soymilk and home made soymilk have been shown to decrease the severity and duration of diarrhea while stimulating weight gain. Other studies have cited the health benefits of soy beans products. Studies on the use of soy bean products in children have shown that soy eases constipation (Lacono et al., 1998), combats diarrhea and lowers high cholesterol (Widhalm et al., 1993).

The findings of this study could probably be attributed to the level of education of the subjects as majority of them had no formal education. Subjects’ means rating to the positive features in terms of age, educational status, occupation and income showed that there were significant differences between means. This means that the variables under study had a significant influence on the positive features of soy beans products.

This result supports the findings of Adetayo et al. (2001) who found a significant relationship between age, education, occupation and the use of soy bean products.

On the negative features of soy bean, subjects in their mean rating also agreed that Soy bean products are not easy to prepare, has foul odor and taste and causes abdominal flatulence, stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting. This result differs from the findings of Abiodun (1991) who found that soy bean products are easy to prepare and are well tolerated. The result does not also support the findings of Quak and Tan (1998) who observed that Asian mothers’ preference for the use of soy milk was due to its high palatability. Also studies by researchers at the University of Illinois have found that soy beans-enhanced food can add variety to children’s diets without sacrificing nutrient value, taste and energy (Endres et al., 2004). Although findings on the negative features of soy beans seem to be in line with claims from the opponents of soy bean products which stated that use of soy beans are not appropriate foods for infants or children because of its adverse health effects (Neustaedter, 2004).

Also there has been no published human research to support the claim that soy bean has adverse effects on Asian children or other children who consume it (Chapman, 2004).

Subjects’ means rating to negative features in terms of age, education level and occupation, respectively showed significant differences. However, there was no significant difference in terms of income status. This means that their level of income had no significant influence on their mean rating to negative features of soy bean. Any observed difference is due to chance.

Based on the above findings and discussions, there is need for advocacy to the mothers on the use of soy bean products to improve the diets of their children who are at high risk for consuming a protein nutrient-poor diet.

Conclusion: Soy bean products remain an important alternative source of protein for children in rural communities such as Akpuoga Community in Enugu State. This is because it is cheaper than animal protein, accessible and nutritive for such low income population where seventy percent of the population earns less than twenty thousand naira per month.