Food Security Status and Factors Affecting Household Food Security in Enugu State, Nigeria

Introduction. In Nigeria, high inflation rates, increasing consumer price index, insurgency, and displacement of households have negatively affected household income expenditures on food resulting in food insecurity. This study aimed at determining the food security status and factors affecting this among households in Enugu state, Nigeria. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study of 800 households in Enugu state, Nigeria. Results. As many as 61.1% of households in Enugu State were found to be food-insecure. The factors influencing food security status were wealth index, belonging to a cooperative society, lack of money to buy food items, and the number of accessible marketplaces. Various coping strategies included skipping meals (77%), reducing quantity of meals (92.6%), purchasing less preferred meals (72.3%) and borrowing food and money (31.3%). Conclusion. The prevalence of food-insecure households was high, mostly due to poverty, not belonging to a cooperative society, and few accessible marketplaces. There is a need for economic and political stability that is supportive of households.