WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY IN SAYINT DISTRICT, SOUTH WOLLO, ETHIOPIA

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.