Mathew Apeh Adejoh, Humphrey Okoduwa
Abstract
Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) is one of the most nutritious indigenous vegetables cultivated and consumed in many parts of Nigeria. It is rich in essential nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and E, dietary fibre, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc, protein, and antioxidants, which play significant roles in maintaining good health and preventing nutrition-related diseases. Despite its availability and affordability in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, pumpkin remains underutilized, and many residents are unaware of its nutritional and medicinal benefits. This study investigates the role of pumpkin in promoting healthful diets and mitigating health issues among residents of Bauchi Local Government Area. Specifically, the study examines the level of pumpkin consumption, assesses public awareness of its nutritional and health benefits, evaluates its contribution to healthy dietary practices, identifies health conditions that may be prevented or managed through regular pumpkin consumption, and explores factors affecting its utilization. A descriptive survey research design is proposed, with data collected from households, healthcare workers, nutritionists, food vendors, and pumpkin farmers using structured questionnaires. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, while inferential statistics, including Chi-square and regression analysis, will be employed to test the stated hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. It is anticipated that the findings will reveal a positive relationship between regular pumpkin consumption and improved dietary quality, enhanced nutritional status, and reduced prevalence of diet-related health conditions such as vitamin A deficiency, anaemia, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and digestive disorders. The study is expected to provide evidence-based recommendations for promoting pumpkin consumption through nutrition education, public health campaigns, agricultural support programmes, and food security initiatives. Ultimately, the research will contribute to knowledge on indigenous food resources and provide practical strategies for improving public health and sustainable nutrition in Bauchi State and Nigeria at large.
References
Abukutsa-Onyango, M. O. (2020). African indigenous vegetables in food and nutrition security. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 20(3), 15645–15663. Adebayo, A. A., & Mohammed, S. U. (2022). Factors influencing indigenous vegetable consumption among rural households in Northern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 12(2), 78–91. Aruoma, O. I., Okojie, P. W., & Eze, J. C. (2020). Dietary diversity and consumption of indigenous vegetables among rural households in Nigeria. Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 10(5), 1–10. Becker, M. H. (1974). The Health Belief Model and personal health behavior. Charles B. Slack. Food and Agriculture Organization. (2021). The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2021. FAO. https://www.fao.org Food and Agriculture Organization. (2022). Indigenous vegetables and healthy diets in Africa. FAO. https://www.fao.org Food and Agriculture Organization. (2023). The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2023. FAO. https://www.fao.org Hochbaum, G. M. (1958). Public participation in medical screening programs: A socio- psychological study. U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Kim, M. Y., Kim, E. J., Kim, Y. N., Choi, C., & Lee, B. H. (2021). Effects of pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) consumption on antioxidant status and chronic disease prevention: A review. Food Science and Biotechnology, 30(4), 465–476. Kulczynski, B., & Gramza-Michałowska, A. (2019). The profile of carotenoids and other bioactive molecules in various pumpkin fruits (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) and their role in human nutrition. Molecules, 24(18), 3212. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24183212 Mbah, B. O., Okafor, C. N., & Nwankwo, C. U. (2021). Effect of nutrition education on vegetable consumption among rural women in Southeast Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Nutrition Sciences, 42(1), 33–45. National Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report. National Bureau of Statistics. https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng Nwofia, G. E., Ojimelukwe, P. C., & Eji, C. (2021). Nutritional composition and health-promoting properties of Cucurbita maxima cultivated in Nigeria. Nigerian Food Journal, 39(2), 55– 67. Ogunniyi, A. I., Kehinde, A. L., & Adeyemi, A. T. (2021). Economic contribution of vegetable farming to household welfare among smallholder farmers in Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 17(4), 612–623. Rosenstock, I. M. (1974). Historical origins of the Health Belief Model. Health Education Monographs, 2(4), 328–335. United Nations Children's Fund. (2022). The State of the World's Children 2022. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org World Health Organization. (2020). Healthy diet. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int World Health Organization. (2021). Global nutrition report. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int World Health Organization. (2023). Promoting healthy diets and preventing non-communicable diseases. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int Zhang, Y., Wang, X., Liu, H., & Chen, L. (2020). Effects of pumpkin supplementation on blood glucose control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of Functional Foods, 67, 103856.
More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
Antibacterial Activity of Stem Bark Extract of Boswellia Odorata Against Some Isolates of Wound Among Patients Attending Selected Hospitals in Kano MetropolisAuthor: Kamal Abdulkadir Muhammad, Ismaila Ahmed, Lawan Danjuma, Raliya Sulaiman, Dauda, Isah Musa Bebeji, Zubairu Sani Ibrahim, Yahaya Ubah Yau, Binta Kabir, Muhammad, and Mukhtar Aminu Bala, Corresponding author
