Mr. Wuyeh Drammeh is a student in department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

Food insecurity is a major challenge for rural households in the Central River Region. However, little is known about its determinant’s factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting household food security. 

 

METHODOLOGY :

 

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 334 households who have been recruited through multistage random sampling in the Central River Region. Women, as a proxy to the household, consented for the study were then interviewed the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24 and multiple logistic regression was conducted.  

 

RESULT: 

 

334 households were included in this study.  Three-quarters of the households (73.4%) were food insecure% households mildly food insecure, 14.1% moderately food insecure and 50.3% severely food insecure. Female household headed  (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI:1.01, 5.84),  household size of ≥7 members  (AOR = 4.5,95% CI:1.18, 5.92), household  income (AOR = 1 4.8,95% CI:3.74, 15.67), absence of livestock (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI:1.21, 4.85), women’s occupation  (AOR = 10.5, 95%CI:1.31, 14.47),  spouse’s occupation (AOR = 4.55, 95% CI:2.08, 9.75), lack of financial assistance  (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI:1.03,5.67) and lack of market access to food  (AOR = 2.2, 95%CI:1.18, 4.10), were factors associated with  household food insecurity. 

 

DISCUSSION:

 

This current study found that there was a high prevalence of household food insecurity in Central River Region, Gambia. Future studies are needed to provide evidence in another region of Gambia in order to generate policy so that measures are taken against this food insecurity problem.