Prevalence and associated factors of multidimensional poverty among rural households in East Gojjam zone, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUNDS: Poverty is a complex and multifaceted global public health issue, particularly prevalent in Ethiopia, including the East Gojjam Zone. Previous studies on poverty have largely relied on unidimensional measures, providing limited evidence on multidimensional poverty (MP). Therefore, this study tried to assess the prevalence and identify the associated factors of MP among rural households in selected woredas of East Gojjam Zone, Northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the fall of 2020 in randomly selected woredas of East Gojjam zone, involving 770 rural households. Multistage cluster sampling was used, and data were collected through structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires covering eleven MP indicators. The global multidimensional poverty index (MPI) was applied to assess poverty status. The multivariable partial proportional odds model (PPOM) was employed to identify the associated factors of MP, and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered as significant. RESULTS: Among 770 rural households considered 37.27% (25.45% moderately and 11.82% severely) of them were classified as multidimensionally poor. The standard of living dimension accounted for the largest contribution to MP. Household head aged, 30-45years (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.15) and those over 45 years (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.42, 5.33), weather condition(Kolla) (AOR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.05, 3.07), experiencing drought in the preceding 12 months (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.41), dependency ratio (AOR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.13,1.59), and adult equivalence (AOR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.07,1.19) were more likely to experience MP. Conversely, marital status (being married) (AOR = 0.36, 95%CI: 0.21, 0.64), woreda, Machakel (AOR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.36, 0.86), Sinan (AOR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.29, 0.95), and road accessibility in the village (AOR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.37, 0.81) were significantly associated with lower odds of MP among rural households in the study area. CONCLUSION: Approximately 37% of rural household's experience moderate to severe MP, and living standards dimension accounted for the largest contribution. Various socio-demographic, agro-ecological, and related factors have been identified to rural MP. To address this issue, stakeholders should prioritize to promote climate-resilient agriculture and strengthening drought coping mechanisms. Furthermore, it is essential to account for the variations in poverty levels across different administrative units and ecological zones to effectively eradicate poverty among rural households.