Ashenafi, Mogessie Prof.Endris, Ahmed2019-10-012023-11-182019-10-012023-11-182019-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/19246A community based cross-sectional study was carried out in Tehuledere woreda Kebeles 01 and 026 to assess food safety knowledge attitude and practice (KAP), households food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) and nutritional status of household members with emphasis on young children (6-24 months). A total of 245 mother-child pairs were selected randomly from the two kebeles. Households food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) HFIAS was used to assess food security status of households, household food safety KAP were assessed with regards to food handling, personal hygiene and water & sanitation, nutritional KAP were used to assess child feeding practices. Data were collected by using structured questionnaires and anthropometric indices were used to determine the nutritional status of under-two children. The data was entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v22) and children Weight and height was used to calculate weight-for-age, weight-for-height and height-for-age by using Emergency Nutritional Assessment (ENA for SMART 2011) in the scale of WHO standards 2006. Results were presented using descriptive statistics. Chi-square was used to test differences among categorical variables. Respondents, in general, showed low knowledge and poor practice in food handling, personal hygiene and water sanitation. Study households were either food secure (17.9%), or mildly food insecure (54.4%) or moderately food insecure (27.8%). The findings also showed that 9.1% and 16.1% of under-two children were stunted in Kebeles 01 and 026, respectively, similar levels of wasting were observed in both kebeles (6%). There were more under-weight children in Kebele 01 (6.1%) than in Kebele 026 (2.6%). Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) measurements showed that 20.3% and 15% of the children in Kebele 01 and 026, respectively were chronic energy deficiency. There is a significant association between child dietary diversity and stunting (p<0.01) in both kebeles.Child nutritional status also had significant association with monthly income in Kebele 01(p<0.05) and with number of children per household in Kebele 026 (p<0.05). Mother’s educational status was significantly associated with child nutritional status (p<0.1) in Kebele 01. Generally households showed low level of food safety and nutritional KAP. Key words: KAP, Food Security, Nutritional Status, Child, Food Safety KAPenKAP, Food Security, Nutritional Status, Child, Food Safety KAPThesis