Food Security Among Urban Households: Status, Determinant Factors and Coping Strategies Evidence from Chiro Town, West Harerge Zone, and Oromia Region, Ethiopia

This study examined the food security status, determinant factors, and coping strategies among urban households in Chiro Town, West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It addressed a research gap by focusing on small and fast-growing towns, which are often overlooked in national studies. A total of 392 households were surveyed using a cross-sectional design and a mixed-methods approach. Food security status was measured using daily calorie intake, with 2,100 kilocalories per adult equivalent used as the cutoff point. The findings showed that 34.44% of the households were food insecure, with varying degrees of severity: 18.88% were marginally insecure, 7.65% were moderately insecure, and 7.91% were severely insecure. The results from binary logistic regression analysis identified key factors that influenced household food security. Households led by individuals with higher education levels, greater income, access to remittances, ownership of a house, and higher food spending were more likely to be food secure. On the other hand, female-headed households, those with larger family sizes, higher dependency ratios, and those relying on daily labor were more likely to face food insecurity. To cope with food shortages, many households used strategies such as reducing the number of meals, working as daily laborers, borrowing money, migrating for seasonal work, and selling livestock or household assets. Some households also relied on food aid, consumed less preferred foods, dropped children from school, or sent them to live with relatives. These coping strategies highlight the serious vulnerability of many urban households. The study concludes that food insecurity is still a major problem in Chiro Town. It recommends targeted support, especially for vulnerable groups, through education, job creation, remittance channels, and improved access to food and financial services. These findings can help guide policies in similar urban areas facing food insecurity challenges.