RESUMEN
Background: This study aims to assess factors associated with food security and dietary diversity among poor urban households of western Oromia, Ethiopia, after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: A cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted in May to June 2021 with 361 poor urban households in the Horo Guduru Wollega zone, western Oromia, Ethiopia. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Twenty-four hour reminder points were used to assess household dietary diversity, and household food security was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale tool. Data were evaluated using the statistical software SPSS version 25.0. Results: This study showed a prevalence of food insecurity in households of 59.6%. The mean and standard deviation of household dietary diversity values were 4.19 ± 1.844. Family size (AOR = 8.5; 95% CI:3.295-21.92), monthly income (AOR = 3.52; 95% CI; 1.771-6.986), dietary diversity (AOR = 8.5; 95% CI; 3.92-18.59), knowledge (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.08-)8.347), attitude (AOR = 8.35, 95% CI:3.112-22.39) and practices against Covid-19 (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI:1.299-11.4) were factors significantly associated with food insecurity. Variables like educational status (AOR = 3.46; 95% CI:1.44-8.312), increased family size after the Covid-19 pandemic (AOR = 2.26; 95% CI:1.02-5.04), food security (AOR = 6.7; 95% CI:4.01-19.01), knowledge (AOR = 3.96; 95% CI:1.57-10.0), attitude (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI:1.75-8.82) and practices toward coronavirus (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI:2.18-23.95) were predictors significantly associated with dietary diversity. Conclusion: This study concluded that family size, monthly income, and dietary diversity were factors contributed to household food security. On the other hand, variables such as educational status, family size, and food security were highly relevant factors for dietary diversity after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices were also variables related to both household food security and dietary diversity. Therefore, immediate interventions such as nutrition-specific interventions can be suggested to address food insecurity and problems of inadequate food intake in poor urban households. In addition, governmental and non-governmental organizations should raise awareness and policies to support those at higher risk by developing affordable, sustainable and targeted social protection systems that ensure food security and adequate dietary intake at the household level.
RESUMEN
Wasting among infants and young children in underdeveloped countries including Ethiopia is one of the most serious public health issues. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the magnitude of wasting and the variables that associate with it among infants and young children in the Kuyu district of Northern Oromia, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study of 612 infants and young children aged 6-23 months was conducted. To select eligible infants and young children from each family in the Kuyu district, a multilevel sampling approach was used. The amount and determinants related to wasting were investigated using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. In the study area, 14.1% of infants and young children were found to be wasting. Maternal educational status (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI; 1.01, 4.32), diarrhoea (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI; 1.98, 4.56), exclusive breastfeeding (AOR = 2.46, 95% CI, 1.4, 4.58), antenatal care visits (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI, 1.32, 3.48), and wealth index (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI; 1.07, 4.47) were significantly associated with wasting. According to the findings of this study, mother educational status, the occurrence of diarrhoea, exclusive breastfeeding, antenatal care visits, and wealth index have an impact on infants and young children's wasting. Therefore, to lower the burden of wasting among infants and young children in the study, community-based schooling and nutritional interventions are urgently needed.