Household food insecurity and hunger are impacted more by Household demographics and asset-based wealth in Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia: Review of the findings of the studies by Hawassa and Saskatchewan Universities

Nigatu R. Geda, Hawassa University and University of Saskatchwan
Carol Henry, University of Saskatchewan
Patience Elabor-Idemudia, University of Saskatchewan

This study assess the contribution of household asset-based wealth and demographic behaviors on the high and persistent household food insecurity and hunger in Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The analysis based on the baseline data collected in ten independent studies embarked upon by Hawassa University (Ethiopia) and Saskatchewan University, Canada (2012-2014). Household food insecurity and hunger were measured by Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Household Hunger Scale (HHS) respectively, and 15 key household, individual and community variables were included .The findings indicated that both household food insecurity and hunger were unacceptably high in the zone ranging from 38.7 to 59.3 and 34.7 to 30.2 to 40.2 percent respectively. The study has also confirmed that food insecurity/ hunger is more a function of cluster of household demographic behaviors and asset based wealth indices such as size, composition, density, gender as measured by headship, wealth index and maternal education (adjusted R-square values ranging from 0.34 to 0.81).