Assessment of Household Food Security and Nutritional Status of Women in the Context of High Food Price in Addis Ababa

Birhane, Tesfay (2012) Assessment of Household Food Security and Nutritional Status of Women in the Context of High Food Price in Addis Ababa. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

Background: Since recently, the world’s economic crisis, mainly the high food price is increasing the number of poor people and aggravating their living conditions. In big urban areas of Ethiopia like Addis Ababa where populations rely on market based household food supply, increasing price of food and nonfood commodities can threaten households’ food security status. In many societies, women bear the brunt of the food price crisis. Thus, it is crucial to generate evidence about the food security of urban households and women’s nutritional status during time of high food price. Objective: To assess households’ food security status and nutritional status of women in the context of high food price in Addis Ababa City Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted from January 18 to Feburary14, 2012. A total of 550 households were selected from three sub-cities of Addis Ababa using multi stage sampling technique. Food security status was assessed using Household Food Insecurity Access Score, and weight and height were also measured using standardized weight measuring scale and height measuring board. Data were collected using questionnaire based interview with household heads. Qualitative method using focus group discussion was employed to explore the possible effect of food price on household food security, and people’s perception about food security. Result: This study found that 75% of households were generally food insecure and 23 % were already in hunger state. Reduction in meal size and shifting to poor quality/less expensive food types/ were common coping strategies to high food price used by households. Household income and educational status of household head were significant determinants of food security. Households with higher food insecurity score have lower dietary diversity and are less likely to consume high quality diets. About 12.7% of women in the sample were underweight while 26% were overweight or obese. Being overweight was significantly associated with better dietary diversity of households. Conclusion and Recommendation: The study revealed that about three fourth of households were food insecure which forced them to reduce their meal size and quality with nearly a quarter of households were suffered from hunger. Household food insecurity was common among the low income households and those headed by uneducated, daily wagers and government employed household heads. Beside subsidization of food items at affordable manner, policy makers should work on stabilization of food market, and create opportunities and capacities for households to increase their per capita income.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Emmanuel Ndorimana
Date Deposited:	06 Aug 2018 13:50
Last Modified:	06 Aug 2018 13:50
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/8187

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