Household Food Insecurity and Associated Factors among Households in Sodo Town, 2015

Abstract

The aim of the study: To assess the level of household food insecurity and associated factors among households in Sodo town, South Ethiopia.Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Sodo town from August 6up to 31, 2015. A total of 609 households were selected from Sodo town by using multistage cluster sampling technique. The data were collected using pretested and structured questionnaires based on interview with household heads. The questionnaires included socio- demographic, socioeconomic and household food insecurity access scale questions. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16 software and both Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses.Results: From a total of 609 households included in this study, 37.6 %( 95%CI =33.5%-41.5%) were food insecure. Of these 10.8% (95%CI=8.4%-13.3%) households were mildly food insecure, while 23.2% (95%CI=19.9%-26.6%) and 3.6% (95%CI=2.3%-5.1%) households were moderately and severely food insecure respectively. Factors associated with food insecurity were single household head (AOR=4.06, 95%CI=1.24-13.27), more than two dependent members in the family (AOR=3.03, 95%CI=1.38- 6.63), daily laborers of household head (AOR=16.0 95%CI =4.57-56.03) higher monthly income (AOR= 0.013, 95 %CI =0.004- 0.05) and low monthly food expenditure (AOR=10.56, 95% CI = 2.61-42.71). Conclusion and recommendation: The study shows that the prevalence of food insecurity was high in the study area as compared to urban national level. Being single household head, more than two dependent members in the household, daily laborers of household head, higher monthly income and low monthly food expenditure were significantly associated with household food insecurity. Therefore, the  result  needs attention on stabilization of food markets, designing urban food insecurity strategies and creating job opportunity to improving food security conditions in the studied area.

Keywords: Associated factors, Food insecurity, HFIAS, Household head, Sodo town