Comparing level of food insecurity between households with and without home gardening practices in Zege, Amhara region, North West Ethiopia: Community based study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, close to 1 billion people suffer from hunger and food insecurity. Evidence showed that prevalence of household food insecurity in Ethiopia is ranged from 25.5%-75.8%. Home gardening is one way to alleviate food insecurity. Hence, the study aimed to determine level of food insecurity and its associated factors between home gardening and non-home gardening household in Zegie, North west Ethiopia. METHODS: Community-based study was conducted from February 10th-March 10th/2020. A total of 648 samples were included. First, 2142 total households who have 6-59 months of age children in the area identified and registered. Then, households categorized in to home garden practicing (1433) and non-home garden practicing (709). The calculated sample size, 324 for each group were selected using simple random sampling technique. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of food insecurity was 38.1% (95% CI: 34.29-42.11%). Food insecurity was significantly higher in non-home gardening groups than their counter parts 45.5% (95% CI: 39.80-51.20%). Having primary education and above (AO = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.25-2.86%), wealth index; 2nd quantile (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.25-0.85%), 3rd quantile (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.17-0.62%) and 4th quantile (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.15-0.54%), dietary diversity (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.15-2.92%) and home garden practices (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.06-2.32%) were variables significantly associated with food insecurity. CONCLUSION: Food insecurity in non-home garden practicing households is higher than practicing households. The local agriculture sector needs to emphasis and empowered households on home gardening practices to realize food security.

Nutritional status of 6-59 months of age children is not significantly varied between households with and without home gardening practices in Zege, North West Ethiopia, 2020: community based comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is a critical public health issue that has been related to a significant increase in mortality and morbidity rates. Despite the fact that children are expected to benefit from home gardening products, their nutritional condition in Ethiopia, particularly in the planned study region, is not thoroughly monitored. Therefore the purpose of this is to determine the nutritional status of 6-59 months of age children between households with and without home gardening practices at Zege. METHODS: A community based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among paired mothers with 6-59 month children from February to March 2020. Data were collected using questionnaire and anthropometric measurement tools. Binary logistic regression models were used. A-p-value < 0.05 was used as cutoff point to declare statistically significant variables with the outcome variable. RESULT: Stunting and wasting among children aged 6-59 months was high and did not show significant variation between households practicing home gardening (stunting 46.1%, at 95%, CI: 40.6-51.3 and wasting 9.1%, at 95% CI: 6.2-12.7) and not practiced home gardening (stunting 50.3%, at 95% CI: 44.5-55.8 and wasting 10.1%, 95% CI: 6.8-13.8). Having low dietary diversity (AOR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.9-3.9), Being male (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.4-3), feeding frequency < 3/day (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.4), and presence of diarrhea (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.4-4.6) were predictors of stunting. Unprotected-drinking water (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.2), not fully-immunized (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.3-5.1) and being female (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.3-4.6) were predictors for child wasting. CONCLUSION: stunting and wasting are highly prevalent in both home gardening and non- home gardening households' children of the community. Promoting diversified diet, protected water source, vaccinating children, access to a healthy environment and integrated with the access of nutrition education programs are vital interventions to improve nutrition.