Examining the effect of demographic and socioeconomic factors on household food insecurity in Lideta subcity, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Food security and vulnerability assessments in Ethiopia have traditionally focused on rural regions. In contemporary policy discussions, urban food security has garnered significant attention. Notably, there is a lack of empirical substantiation of urban food security and its impact on the livelihoods of city dwellers as they grapple with escalating food prices. The present study aims to determine the extent of household food insecurity and identify correlated factors among 692 households in three randomly selected Woredas (districts) within Lideta sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Six Ketenas (villages) were selected using a probability proportional-to-size technique from three Woredas between February and March of 2023. Data were collected through a validated survey administered by trained individuals, and household income and expenditure were used to measure food insecurity access. Chi-square (χ2) and logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with food insecurity in the region. The overall prevalence of household food insecurity in the study area was found to be 66.5%. Regression results indicate that seven of the hypothesized nine demographic and socioeconomic determinants of household food insecurity significantly influence the probability of experiencing food insecurity (p < 0.05). Household food expenditure, household dependency ratio, age, sex, educational status of the household head, access to savings and credit, and the urban productive safety net program were identified as significant determinants of urban household food insecurity. This study underscores that food insecurity in Ethiopia is not limited to rural areas but also affects urban regions, mainly due to high urban poverty rates. Strategies to reduce household size, improve the household dependency ratio, and enhance socioeconomic factors can empower households to build resilience against food insecurity. Policymakers should adopt measures to stabilize the food insecurity improve living standards, and enhance the economic capabilities of urban households.
Agidew-Meta, A.A., & Singh, K.N. (2018). Determinants of food insecurity in the rural farm households in South Wollo zone of Ethiopia: The case of the Teleyayen sub-watershed. Agricultural and Food Economics, 6(1):10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-018-0106-4
Akukwe, T.I. (2020). Household food security and its determinants in Agrarian communities of southeastern Nigeria. Agro- Science, 19(1):54-60. https://doi.org/10.4314/as.v19i1.9
Aschalew, F., & Ayalneh, B. (2009). Determinants and dimensions of household food insecurity in Dire Dawa Town, Ethiopia. East African Journal of Sciences, 3(2):134-141. https://doi.org/10.4314/eajsci.v3i2.53655
Ayele, A.W., Kassa, M., Fentahun, Y., & Edmealem, H. (2020). Prevalence and associated factors for rural households food insecurity in selected districts of east Gojjam zone, northern Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 20(1):202. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-8220-0
Battersby, J. (2011). Urban food insecurity in Cape Town, South Africa: An alternative approach to food access. Development Southern Africa, 28(4):545-561. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2011.605572
Belachew, T., Lindstrom, D., Gebremariam, A., Jira, C., Hattori, M.K., Lachat, C., Huybregts, L., & Kolsteren, P. (2012). Predictors of chronic food insecurity among adolescents in Southwest Ethiopia: A longitudinal study. BMC Public Health, 12(1):604. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-604
Birhane, T., Shiferaw, S., Hagos, S., & Mohindra, K.S. (2014). Urban food insecurity in the context of high food prices: A community based cross sectional study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Public Health, 14:680. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-680
Boliko, M.C. (2019). FAO and the situation of food security and nutrition in the world. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology (Tokyo), 65:S4-S8. https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.65.S4
Burchi, F., & De Muro, P. (2012). A Human Development and Capability Approach to Food Security: Conceptual Framework and Informational Basis. United States: United Nations Development Programme.
Claro, R.M., Levy, R.B., Bandoni, D.H., & Mondini, L. (2010). Per capita versus adult-equivalent estimates of calorie availability in household budget surveys. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 26(11):2188-2195. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2010001100020
CSA. (2022a). Country and Regional Level Consumer Price Indices (CPI): Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Vol. 43. Addis Ababa: Central Statistical Agency, p.46. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513564876.002
CSA. (2022b). Population Projection of Ethiopia for All Regions: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Central Statistical Agency.
Dinku, A.M., Mekonnen, T.C., & Adilu, G.S. (2023). Urban food systems: Factors associated with food insecurity in the urban settings evidence from Dessie and Combolcha cities, North-central Ethiopia. Heliyon, 9(3):e14482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14482
Donn, P., Ngondi, J.L., Tieguhong, J.C., Iponga, D.M., Tchingsabe, O., Fungo, R., Tchatat, M., & Kahindo, J.M. (2016). Poverty and poor education are key determinants of high household food insecurity among populations adjoining forest concessions in the Congo Basin. BMC Nutrition, 2(1):35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-016-0070-x
Dula, T. (2019). Determinants of rural household food security and coping up mechanisms in the case of Woliso Woreda Western Ethiopia. World Journal of Agriculture and Soil Science, 1(2):1-10. https://doi.org/10.33552/wjass.2019.01.000507
Ejigayhu, S., & Edriss, A.K. (2012). Determinants of food insecurity in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia. Journals of Economics and Sustaninable Development, 5(5):68-77.
Fan, S.G., & Cho, E.E.Y. (2021). Paths out of poverty: International experience. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 20(4):857-867. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63295-6
FAO. (2004). Human Energy Requirements: Report of a Joint Expert Consultation, Rome. FAO and Nutrition Technical Report Series.
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP., & WHO. (2020). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020. Transforming Food Systems for Affordable Healthy Diets. Rome: FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9692en
FAO. (2021). Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition: Transforming Food Systems for Affordable Healthy Diets. Rome: FAO, p.168.
FDRE. (2017). Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Ethiopias’ Progress Towards Eradicating Poverty. An Interim Report on 2015/16 Poverty Analysis Study. Available from: https://www.csa.gov.et/component/phocadownload/ category/357-poverty-analysis [Last accessed: 2023 Apr 25].
Gazuma, E.G. (2018). An empirical examination of the determinants of food insecurity among rural farm households: Evidence from Kindo Didaye district of Southern Ethiopia. Business and Economics Journal, 9(1):345. https://doi.org/10.4172/2151-6219.1000345
Gebre, G.G., & Rahut, D.B. (2021). Prevalence of household food insecurity in East Africa: Linking food access with climate vulnerability. Climate Risk Management, 33:100333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2021.100333
Gezimu, G. (2012). Determinants of food insecurity among households in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia. Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 10(2):159-173. https://doi.org/10.7906/indecs.10.2.9
Habte, S., Gudina, E., Wondmagegn, P., Tesfahun, Y., & Minyahil, T. (2019). Food insecurity and associated factors among households in Areka town, Southern Ethiopia. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 40(2):271-281. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572119826464
IDMC. (2021). Ethiopia: Country Profile. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. Available from: https://www. internaldisplacement.org/countries/ethiopia [Last accessed on 2022 Jan 10].
Mekonen, D., Berlie, A.B., & Kassie, T. (2023). Determinants of urban food security status at household level: The case of Bahir Dar and Gondar cities of the Amhara region, Ethiopia. Cogent Food and Agriculture, 9(1):2186209. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2186209
MOFED. (2018). Poverty and Economic Growth in Ethiopia (1995/96-2015/16). Planning and Development Commission (PDC). Addis Ababa: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, p.130.
Mota, A.A., Lachore, S.T., & Handiso, Y.H. (2019). Assessment of food insecurity and its determinants in the rural households in Damot Gale Woreda, Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. Agriculture and Food Security, 8(1):11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-019-0254-0
NBE. (2022). Macroeconomic and Social Indicators: Quarterly Bulletin. Ethiopia: National Bank of Ethiopia.
Negesse, A., Jara, D., Temesgen, H., Dessie, G., Getaneh, T., Mulugeta, H., et al. (2020). The impact of being of the female gender for household head on the prevalence of food insecurity in Ethiopia: A systematic-review and meta-analysis. Public Health Reviews, 41(1):15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-020-00131-8
Ngema, P.Z., Sibanda, M., & Musemwa, L. (2018). Household food security status and its determinants in Maphumulo local municipality, South Africa. Sustainability, 10(9):3307. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093307
Odekon, M.A. (2022). Multidimensional Poverty Index. The Sage Encyclopedia of World Poverty. United States: SAGE Publications, Inc., p.1-2. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483345727.n566
Opiyo, P., Obange, N., Ogindo, H., & Wagah, G. (2018). The Characteristics, Extent and Drivers of Urban Food Poverty in Kisumu, Kenya. Available from: https://opendocs.ids. ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/16240 [Last accessed on 2023 Aug 18].
Otekunrin, O.A., Otekunrin, O.A., Sawicka, B., & Pszczółkowski, P. (2021). Assessing food insecurity and its drivers among smallholder farming households in rural Oyo state, Nigeria: The HFIAS approach. Agriculture, 11(12):1189. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11121189
PDC. (2019). “National Account Data”, the FDRE planning and population and development review. Planning and Development Commission, 27:160-176.
Phouvong, P. (2020). Exploring the determinants of food security in the areas of the Nam Theun 2 hydropower project in Khammuan, Laos. Sustainability, 12(2):520. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020520
Plümper, T., & Neumayer, E. (2009). Famine mortality, rational political inactivity, and international food aid. World Development, 37(1):50-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.05.005
Riley, L., Chilanga, E., Zuze, L., & Joynt, A. (2019). Food Security in Africa’s Secondary Cities. Canada: Southern African Migration Programme. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvh8r3bq
Sani, S., & Kemaw, B. (2019). Analysis of households food insecurity and its coping mechanisms in Western Ethiopia. Agricultural and Food Economics, 7(1):5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-019-0124-x
Sen, A. (1981). Ingredients of famine analysis: Availability and entitlements. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 96(3):433-464. https://doi.org/10.2307/1882681
Shone, M., Demissie, T., Yohannes, B., & Yohannis, M. (2017). Household food insecurity and associated factors in West Abaya district, Southern Ethiopia, 2015. Agriculture and Food Security, 6(1):2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-016-0080-6
Syafiq, A., Fikawati, S., & Gemily, S.C. (2022). Household food security during the COVID-19 pandemic in urban and semi-urban areas in Indonesia. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 41(1):4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-022-00285-y
Tabrizi, J.S., Nikniaz, L., Sadeghi-Bazargani, H., Farahbakhsh, M., & Nikniaz, Z. (2018). Socio-demographic determinants of household food insecurity among Iranian: A population-based study from Northwest of Iran. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 47(6):893-900.
Tadesse, A.T., Gamebo, T.D., Sheno, B.K., & Kabalo, M.Y. (2017). Household food insecurity and associated factors among households in Wolaita Sodo town, 2015. Agriculture and Food Security, 6(1):19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-017-0098-4
Taheri, F., & Azadi, H. (2019). Understanding famine in Ethiopia: Bio-physical and socio-economic drivers. In: Handbook of Famine, Starvation, and Nutrient Deprivation: From Biology to Policy. Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55387-0_114
Tariku, G.T., & Ayana, M. (2022). Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Associated Factors among Households in Waliso Town, Oromia, Ethiopia. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2205108/v1
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. (2022). World Population Prospects 2022: Summary of Results. (2022). United Nation (Issue 9). Available from: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd [Last accessed on 2023 Aug 18].
Welteji, D., Mohammed, K., & Hussein, K. (2017). The contribution of productive safety net program for food security of the rural households in the case of Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia. Agriculture and Food Security, 6(1):53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-017-0126-4
Wondim, A.K. (2018). Impact of productive safety net program in rural community of Ethiopia: A review study. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 10(5):84-88. https://doi.org/10.5897/jaerd2018.0952
Yibrah, H.G. (2014). The economic impact of productive safety net program on poverty: Evidence from household survey data, Tigrai national regional state, Ethiopia. International Journal of Economic Behavior, 4(1):115-125.