Socio-Economic Determinants of Food Security among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the determinants and constraints of food security among internally displaced persons in North Central Nigeria. Primary data used for the study were derived by a survey of 137 residents of the IDP camps using a structured questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and binary logit regression. The result of the analysis showed that household size, children status, and religion are statistically significant at 5%. Poor health status, high cost of food in the camp, lack of steady income, limited access to farmland, and rapid population growth in the camp were identified among others as the constraints to food security with a high mean score of >2.4. The study recommended that government policy measures directed towards family planning in IDP camps should be given adequate attention and made a priority to reduce the number of persons in a household and ensure that every one is adequately taken care of.