Health Problems and Health Coping Strategies of Areas Experiencing Food Shortage: Preparedness and Response of the Community and of the Responsible Bodies.
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Date
1998-12
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
A cross sectional study was conducted with the objective of assessing health
problems, health coping strategies and health care demand of non-displaced communities which are in food crisis. The study consisted of a household survey (n=53 I households), Focus Group Oiscuss ions( N=IO groups) and an individual in depth interview of government officials ( n = 9)through which quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The study Woreda (district) of North Wollo Zone, Amahara Regional State, Ethiopia. The di strict was highly affected by the famines of the 1970s and 1980s and has been facing repeated food shortages ever since. In the three months recall period 748(29.4%) of the 2,547 household members reported being ill, out of which only 122 (16.3%) sought western-style medical care. The ma in reason (72.7% of the responses) for not seeking medical care was lack of money to cover the medical cost and/or for transportation and accommodation. Most households had not recovered from the past famines' economic shock, due to the recurrent nature of food production failure. The an nualpercapita income in the surveyed population was found to be 3 10.4 (US $ 43.7). In formation was obtained from 148 household s on the health- cost co ping mechanisms; these were 72(48.6%) of the households from the sale of animals and anima l products, 32(2 1.6%) from the sale of grains and the rest from loans, savings, sale of household utensils and fi re-wood, and working in food-far-work or cash-for work programmes. The most vulnerable groups who were severely affected by the current food crisis were elders, women-headed households and those who have no productive assets, i.e, the poor. About half of the 531 studied households had no single animal; 55.5 were currently dependent on food aid . This fin ding shows the exhaustion of the health cost- coping strategies of the communities. A relatively high number of the households (24.6%) were found to consume a fa mine food (Lathyrus Sativus) which causes neuro-toxicity when consumed for along period as a main diet. The line ministry offices, from the region to the district, lack trained manpower in disaster management; there is a tendency for them to forward all disaster issues to the specific government authority for disaster management issues, the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (OPPC).The study recommendations are as follows: a) Health aid should be part of food aid package; b) Special attention should go to the most vulnerable groups of the community; and c) Training of disaster managers at all levels IS mandatory for a better handling of disasters.
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Keywords
Health Problems, Food Shortage, Strategies