Page 103 - IJPS-10-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Household food insecurity in urban areas

4. Discussion attention to their family members. The presence of a
female as the head of the household exerts an influence
The study reveals that 66.5% of the sample households on an increased calorie supply, which may be attributed to
experienced food insecurity. This finding is consistent with the variations in expenditure preference observed between

previous studies conducted in Addis Ababa City and Areka households headed by males and their female counterparts
Town, Ethiopia, which reported rates of 71% and 69.6%, (Aschalew & Ayalneh, 2009).
respectively (Habte et al., 2019; Mota et al., 2019). However,
it deviates from the findings in the Woliso district, where the The present study has revealed that households with
rate was 28.4%, and Addis Ababa city, which was reported a lower dependency ratio are more likely to achieve food
having a higher prevalence at 75% (Birhane et al., 2014; Dula, security compared to those with a higher dependency ratio.
2019). The observed discrepancies in these results could All other factors being equal, household food insecurity
potentially be attributed to variances in study areas and data increases nearly 6.68-fold when the dependency ratio
acquisition periods. This assertion suggests that the scale increases by more than 100%, in contrast to households
and severity of the issue may have been underestimated. with dependency ratios of 0 – 50%. This finding is consistent
Utilizing seasonal data and conducting multiple surveys with the findings from previous studies conducted in
could provide more robust and comprehensive evidence Addis Ababa and the Woliso district of Ethiopia (Birhane
(Shone et al., 2017; Tariku & Ayana, 2022). et al., 2014; Dula, 2019; Tariku & Ayana, 2022). The
rationale behind this observation can be attributed to
4.1. Demographic characteristics and household the non-contributory role played by dependent members
food insecurity in generating income designated for purchasing food.
The age of the household head demonstrated a positive Instead, resources are shared among dependent family
association with household food insecurity, a finding members for other necessities such as children’s education,
corroborating several studies (Habte et al., 2019; Mekonen clothing, nutrition, and health-care expenses for older
et al., 2023; Shone et al., 2017). However, this observation family members who rely on others for support (Akukwe,
contrasts with findings in other research (Mota et al., 2020; Tariku & Ayana, 2022).
2019; Phouvong, 2020). The observed disparity could be 4.2. Socioeconomic characteristics and household
attributed to recent changes in governmental policies and food insecurity
societal conditions, particularly in relation to younger
demographics and factors such as technical and vocational The level of education was also found to be a significant
education. Elderly household heads typically exhibit a determinant of urban household food insecurity at p < 0.05.
lower tendency to engage in various income-generating The results indicate that households headed by individuals
activities compared to their younger counterparts. These with higher levels of education are more likely to experience
households may also lack active income-generating food security compared to those led by illiterate household
household members and heavily rely on pensions as their heads. This finding aligns with studies conducted in
primary source of sustenance (Habte et al., 2019). different regions of Ethiopia (Dula, 2019; Mota et al., 2019;
Ngema et al., 2018; Tadesse et al., 2017). The plausibility of
The sex of household heads was found to be a
significant factor in determining household food this observation stems from the belief that education has
insecurity at p < 0.05. The study’s results indicate that a significant impact on various aspects of individual and
households headed by males experience higher levels of societal progress. This impact includes enhancing work
food insecurity in comparison to those headed by females. proficiency, developing competencies, diversifying income
sources, and fostering a vision for creating a conducive
This finding resonates with previous studies conducted
in Dire Dawa City, Ethiopia and Kindo Didaye District environment for educating dependents. This strategy can
of Southern Ethiopia (Aschalew & Ayalneh, 2009; Tabrizi ultimately pave the way for long-term improvements in
et al., 2018) but contrasts with other evidence (Dinku et al., living conditions, a stark contrast to the dire circumstances
2023; Mekonen et al., 2023; Negesse et al., 2020; Phouvong, typically experienced by individuals lacking such education
2020).The observed differences can plausibly be attributed (Akukwe, 2020; Habte et al., 2019).

to variations in socioeconomic factors across the study Household heads with access to savings and credit
areas and the progression of female empowerment in were found to be food secure compared to those without
professional employment and strategic influence (Minale, access to savings and credit at p < 0.05. This finding
2019). It can be posited that female heads of households corroborates with several past studies (Ejigayhu & Edriss,
exhibit a heightened sense of responsibility, leading them 2012; Mekonen et al., 2023) but contradicts the findings
to prioritize the needs of their families and allocate ample of other previous studies (Phouvong, 2020; Tadesse et al.,

Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024) 97 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1060