PREVALENCE OF FOOD INSECURITY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG SLUM HOUSEHOLDS OF GENDE MESKIN, IN DIRE DAWA TOWN, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: The households in the urban poor communities are highly prone to food insecurity not only due to high food price and low access to food but also poor housing condition, insufficient water supply and sanitation. However, in Ethiopia, little is known about the actual level of food insecurity and its predictors among urban poor.The objective of this study is to assess the magnitude of food insecurity and associated factors among slum households of Gende Meskin, in Dire Dawa town, Eastern Ethiopia from March 20-27 2017. Methods: A cross-sectional community based study design was used among randomly selected 317 households in slum households of Gende Meskin. A community based crosee sectional study design was used to collect data by using house to house visit. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Epi-data statistical software version 3.0 was used to enter data and Statistical software package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for further analysis. All covariates that were significant at p value < 0.25 in bivariate logistic regression analysis were considered for further multivariate analysis. Crude and Adjusted Odd Ratios along with 95% Confidence interval was calculated to measure the strength of association. Level of statistical significance was declared on variables at p-value < 0.05. Results: The study found that 93.4% 95%CI; (93.8, 97.5) of the households were food insecure of which 63.7% 95%CI; (66.2, 74.5) of the households were severely food insecure while the remaining 25.5% 95%CI; (19.7, 27.6) and 4.2% 95%CI; (1.0, 3.5) are moderately and mildly food insecure respectively. Age group of >36 [(AOR= 8.5; 95%CI (1.5, 37.6)], female heads xii [(AOR=; 4.6 95CI (1.66, 17.22)], family monthly income [(AOR= 7.4; 95CI (2.78, 19.4)], and employment status [(AOR=4.6; 95CI (2.02, 20.45)] of the household heads were the factors that were inversely related to food security status. Conclusion: Household food insecurity was found to be high in the study area. Household food insecurity status was particularly high among older heads, female heads, daily laboures and households with lower income. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve employement opportunity and livelihood of the households and also strong multisectoral collaboration is essential targeting at empowering women and creating a healthy conducive housing environment to resolve problems related to household food insecurity.