LEVEL OF FOOD CONSUMPTION SCORE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CASH BENEFICIARY WOMEN IN EASTERN HARARGHE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Poor consumption of diet can have a negative impact that long-lasting effects on health, and affects the physiology and mental capacity of the individuals. Many studies have been done on food security, but limited studies have been done to show the level of food consumption scores among cash beneficiary women, particularly in the study area. Therefore, this study aims to assess the level of food consumption score and associated factors among cash-beneficiary women in eastern Hararghe, Ethiopia Objective: This study aims to assess the level of food consumption score and associated factors among cash-beneficiary women in eastern Hararghe, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among cash-beneficiary women from Sept. 17/2022 to Nov. 17/2022. All women who used cash beneficiaries member's woreda were the source population of this study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire among 374 randomly selected cash beneficiary participants. EPI Data version 3.1 software was used to code, enter, and clean the data, which was then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. The study used proportional odds models. Variables with a p-value <0.25 were considered for multivariable analysis, and the 95% confidence interval was calculated to measure the strengths of the association at P-values <0.05. Results: The acceptable food consumption score among cash beneficiaries’ women was 43.3 % (95% CI 38.27%-48.36%). The source of food from own production of cash beneficiary women (AOR= 2.18, [95%CI: 1.68, 4.56]) and animal source food (AOR= 12.14, [95%CI: 5.25, 28.0.6]) were significantly associated with the higher probability of being classified in acceptable food consumption score. However, cash-beneficiary women with favours in exchange for being registered (AOR= 0.059, [95%CI: 0.011, 0.32]) were inversely associated with the probability of having an acceptable food consumption score. Conclusion: In our study, the acceptable food consumption score of cash-beneficiary women in Eastern Hararghe was low. Maximizing local food production and consumption of animal-sourced food should address the acceptable food consumption score among cash-beneficiary women. Appropriate nutritional education should be given