EFFECT OF AWARENESS OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE ON FOOD SECURITY STATUS AMONG BUSH MEAT MARKETERS IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated the effect of level of awareness of Ebola virus disease on food security status among bush meat marketers in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to; describe the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, examine the extent to which the respondents are aware of Ebola virus disease prevalence, determine their food security status, identify the determinants of household food security of the respondents and lastly, the major constraints encountered by the respondents during Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 100 bush meat marketers using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the study revealed that 89.0% of the respondents were female and 76.0% were married. Majority (90%) were educated and their age fall between 41 and 60 years (51.0%). Majority (54.0%) of the respondents earned (sic) 20,001 and (sic) 40,000 per month before Ebola Virus Disease outbreak and 52.0% earned between. 20,001 and (sic) 30,000 after Ebola Virus Disease outbreak per month. Similarly, ranking score showed that radio (53.0%), family and friends (21.0%), television (44.2%) were major sources of information to the respondents during the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the study area. majority (85.5%) of the respondents were aware of Ebola Virus Disease occurrence while only (14.5%) were not aware of Ebola Virus Disease. The mean per capita food expenditure per month was estimated to be (sic) 3,720.45 and the value was used to establish the food security line which shows that 52.3% of the households were food secure. The binary logit regression analysis showed that marital status, educational level and monthly income were positive and had a significant influence on food security status while age was significant but negatively influences the respondents' food security status. Major constraints faced by the respondents include low income generation as a result of phobia for the virus, which hinders the respondents from meeting their social obligations as well as discrimination of the infected person.