Household Livelihood Coping Strategies and Predictors in Post‐Conflict Tigray, Ethiopia: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Background The Tigray region of Ethiopia has faced longstanding economic challenges due to erratic rainfall, drought, locust infestation, and other factors, which were severely exacerbated by the Tigray war, leading to a sharp rise in food insecurity. Despite the Pretoria peace agreement, ongoing disruptions have further worsened malnutrition and economic distress in post‐conflict Tigray. This study investigates households’ livelihood coping strategies (LCSs) in the region and the factors influencing them, to inform policymakers and aid organizations. Method A community‐based cross‐sectional study conducted in Ethiopia’s Tigray region during April 2024 employed a two‐stage stratified cluster sampling method with a total sample size of 1311 participants to assess household resilience and LCSs. The study utilized univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate chi‐square analysis, and multivariate ordinal logistic regression to analyze demographic factors, household composition, health status, and livelihood conditions as predictors of coping strategies. All statistical analyses were conducted using R Version 4.4.1, and predictors with a p ‐value less than 0.05 in both analyses were considered statistically significant. Results Respondents were predominantly female (57.9%) and aged between 36 and 60 years (56.4%). Health assessments indicated that 25.7% of respondents experienced vision difficulties, while 25.3% reported mobility challenges. Economic conditions were dire, with 81.3% of households classified as being in an emergency and only 0.8% considered food secure. Geographical disparities were evident, particularly in central Tigray, where crisis and emergency levels reached 9.5% and 39.8%, respectively. Ordinal logistic regression revealed that households in the Central (SE = 0.781, odds ratio [OR] = 16.02, p < 0.001) and Eastern Zones (SE = 0.784, OR = 6.78, p = 0.015), those in crisis (SE = 0.418, OR = 3.28, p = 0.005) or emergency conditions (SE = 0.403, OR = 3.44, p = 0.005), and individuals with walking difficulty (SE = 0.259, OR = 1.91, p = 0.028) were significantly more likely to adopt low coping strategies, while marital status and presence of young children were not significant. Conclusion The study highlights a critical humanitarian crisis in Tigray, where most households face severe food insecurity. Targeted interventions are urgently needed to enhance humanitarian assistance and strengthen livelihood recovery efforts to mitigate the long‐term impacts of food insecurity and economic distress.