Folasire, O. F.Afolabi, V. I.2026-05-0820243005-0774ui_art_folasire_knowledge_2024Discoveries in Public Health 3(1)https://repository.ibadanedu.com/handle/123456789/13919Background: Iron and folate deficiency remains a global public health problem, especially among females of reproductive age. This study evaluated the nutrition knowledge of and consumption pattern of foods rich in iron-folate among final year female undergraduate students, as a formative assessment to plan nutrition intervention. Methods: A cross-sectional study, used simple random sampling to recruit 180 final-year undergraduate female students at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Level of knowledge was categorized into adequate and inadequate based on the mean knowledge score 11±6.0. A modified FFQ was used to measure dietary pattern, examined and classified as having a frequent (at least three times per week) or infrequent (less than three times per week) consumption pattern. Data analysis was with SPSS at p 0.05). Results: About 52.2% of the respondents got information on iron-rich food, while 38.9% of the respondents got information on folate-rich foods from health professionals/hospitals and internet. Mean knowledge score was 11±6.0. About 55.7% of respondents had inadequate knowledge of iron-folate, while 43.0%had adequate knowledge about iron-and folate-. Most (88.9%) of the respondents infrequently consumed green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds (81.7%), legumes (88.9%) while, 57.8%, 55.0%, 50.6% frequently consumed meats, poultry and dairy products respectively. Largely, there was no significant relationship between the nutrition knowledge and the consumption of iron folate rich foods (p>0.05).However, inadequate knowledge of iron and folate-rich foods was significantly related with infrequent intakes of green leafy vegetables (X2=8.508, p=0.004). Conclusion: Knowledge of iron and folate among respondents was poor. Dietary consumption of iron-folate - rich foods was also generally poor except for poultry, meats and meat products. Hence, there is need for targeted nutrition intervention in this group of WRA.eniron deficiencyfolic acid deficiencyanaemianutritionwomen of reproductive ageArticle