Abstract:
Malnutrition is attributed to lack of adequate and balanced diet and is considered as a
major cause of health problem for majority of the population of Ethiopia and can lead to
decreased productivity and thus exacerbate poverty. The choices people make about food
determine which nutrients enter their body and these choices are influenced by many
interrelating factors. A key challenge to achieving sustainable improvement in adequate
food choice behavior is the limited knowledge about drivers of food choice. Therefore, the
general objective of this study is to examine factors influencing food choice behavior of
rural households in Adola Rede district. Multi-stage sampling procedures were employed.
Probability sampling to size was used to determine study sits and sample respondents from
each study sits, while random sampling techniques were used to draw sample respondents.
Survey data was collected from 150 sample respondents using interview schedule. Focus
group discussions were also conducted with group of rural households. Descriptive
statistics and econometric model were employed to analyze the collected data. Food choice
behavior of the rural households was categorized depending on Food Consumption Score
used widely by World Food Program. Among 13 variables used in the ordered logistic
regression model, dependency ratio, total land holding, number of livestock owned, access
to credit, education and agro- ecology were significantly related to the rural households’
food choice behavior. The food choice behaviors of the household respondents were 30%
poor, 45% borderline and 25% adequate food choice behavior. An overwhelmingly, threefourth
of the respondents were found to be inappropriate food choice behavior. Therefore,
local government and nongovernmental organizations should give emphasis for improving
food choice behavior through continuous training, coaching, asset building and capital
mobilization and improving access to different service provider institutions.
