Prevalence of Household Food Insecurity and its Associated Factors in West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia. A Community- based Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity remains a global social and public health issue affecting households. Divergent trends persisted despite the shift in the frequency of food insecurity in local, regional, and global contexts which needs imitate attention for action by stakeholders. Therefore, This study aimed to determine the magnitude and identify the factors that contribute to household food insecurity in the West Gojjam zone in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross sectional study was employed among 647 from November 1 to November 20/2023 in West Gojjam Zone. multi-stage sampling technique was used; study participants were selected by using systematic sampling. Data were collected through face-to-interview by trained health worker. Factors having p-value <0.25 in bivariate analysis was fitted to in the multivariable analysis. Then, variables having p-value <0.05 at 95%CI was announced significantly associated of household food insecurity.

 Results: In this study, the finding showed that nearly-half (49.2%) of the households were household food insecurity. households head who had no formal education(AOR=2.92 at 95%CI: 1.85, 6.52), had primary education(AOR=2.14; 95%CI:1.36, 4.01), highland agro-ecological zone(AOR=2.75; 95% CI: 1.95, 5.15) midland agro-ecological zone (AOR=1.65; 95% CI: 1.13, 4.02), not utilized agricultural extension services (AOR= 3.97; 95%CI: 2.22, 7.09), high dependency ratio (AOR=3.06; 95% CI: 1.82, 5.15), medium dependency ratio(AOR=1.87; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.13), had livestock less than 2.5 units(AOR=1.83; 95%CI :(1.15, 3.56), had farmland size of ≤ 1.5 hectares(AOR = 3.90, 95% CI: 1.82, 6.33) and low household dietary diversity score(AOR = 3.95, 95% CI: 1.96, 7.04), medium dietary diversity score(AOR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.95) were significantly associated with household food insecurity. 

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that there is a significant frequency of food insecurity in households in the West Gojjam zone. Household food insecurity factors were: low and medium household dietary diversity scores, low and medium farmland agro-ecological zones, low and medium livestock numbers, low and medium farmland sizes, high and medium dependency ratios, and no formal or primary education. Recommended strategies is enhancing primary health care services, particularly family planning services, Community-based education, the use of agricultural extension services, and the use of agricultural inputs.