Abstract:
Background: Food insecurity continues to be a major public health problem in both developed
and developing countries. Women in developing countries play a crucial role in ensuring
household food security. A linkage between gender and food security in traditional Ethiopia
context is significant. However, little is known about women empowerment and household food
insecurity in the study area.
Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess women empowerment and household
food insecurity among households in Sayint district, south Wollo, Ethiopian from February to
March, 2017.
Method: A community based cross sectional study design was conducted in the study area. A total
418 households were included in the study using random sampling techniques. Data on household
food security status and women empowerment were collected by face to face interviews using well
structured household food insecurity access question (HFIAS) and the five domain of
empowerment (5DE). Logistic regressions were fitted and odds ratios along with 95% confidence
intervals were estimated to identify factors associated with household food insecurity. Level of
statistical significance was declared at p-value less than 0.05.
Results: The prevalence of household food insecurity were [61.5%, 95 %CI, (56.7, 65.9)] in
which [19%, 95 %CI (15.1, 23.1)] were mild food insecure, [30.8%, 95% CI, (26.4, 35.6)] were
moderately food insecure and [(11.8%, 95%CI (8.7, 14.9)] were severely food insecure. According
to the five domains of women empowerment [68.5%, 95%CI, (63.9, 72.4)] households had non
empowered women. Women non empowerment [AOR = 13.59, 95% CI = (1.49, 8. 68)], no formal
education [AOR= 3.527, 95% CI= (1.28, 9.76)], lack of irrigation [AOR= 5.76, 95% CI= (2.21,
14.90)] and off farm income [AOR= 6.95, 95% CI= (3.68, 13.11)] were factors associated with
household food insecurity.
Conclusion: Finally this study revealed that the majority of the households were food insecure
and had non- empowered women. Hence, non empowered women, no off farm income, no formal
education and lack of irrigation were factors associated with food insecurity. Therefore it is
recommended that promoting women empowerment, off farm income and formal education and
irrigation usage is needed to alleviate the problem of food insecurity.
