IJSR International Journal of Scientific Research 2277 - 8179 Indian Society for Health and Advanced Research ijsr-8-11-23304 Original Research Paper Measurement and distribution of Household Food Insecurity in an eastern district in Assam: A cross sectional study Jyotismita Pathak Dr. November 2019 8 11 01 02 ABSTRACT

Background: Food security is a crucial determinant of the development of a nation. The household food security is seen to be influenced by a multitude of factors in various studies, But most of these studies were done in affluent nations or in random households. This study focuses on households with small children. Objectives: To assess household food insecurity and its related factors in preschool children in Dibrugarh district. Methods: Cross sectional study among 510 randomly selected children attending AWCs in each of the 8 ICDS blocks in Dibrugarh was done. Data on socio–demographic details Household Food Insecurity was obtained. Results: Only 44.5% (227) households among the surveyed 510 households were categorized as food secure and 67 (13.1%) households as having severe food insecurity. Food security of the household was significantly associated with the socio–economic class of the household as well as the literacy status of the parents of the surveyed children. Conclusions: Food insecurity is common in study population. Along–with access to food, an integrated approach that improves the overall socioeconomic well–being of families and parental education is needed.