Covid-19 related factors to food security and dietary diversity among urban households in western Oromia, Ethiopia

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.