Regional disparities and sociodemographic determinants of food insecurity in Somalia: a secondary cross-sectional analysis of a National survey

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity represents a critical public health challenge in Somalia, where four decades of state fragility, environmental vulnerability, and sociopolitical instability have created chronic food access limitations. Although existing research has primarily examined macro-level determinants, there remains a substantial gap in understanding how individual-level sociodemographic factors influence food security outcomes among various population subgroups. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Somalia Demographic and Health Survey involving 52,154 participants aged 13 years and above. A multistage stratified cluster sampling technique ensured representation across urban, rural, and nomadic populations. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and household food insecurity, with adjusted odds ratios calculated to identify independent predictors. RESULTS: Significant disparities were observed across multiple dimensions. Educational attainment demonstrated strong protective effects, with higher education reducing food insecurity odds by 82% compared with no formal education. Middle-aged adults divorced and widowed individuals, and female-headed households showed elevated vulnerability. Extreme regional heterogeneity was observed, with residents in Bakool and Gedo facing more than 13 times greater risk than those in Awdal. Rural and nomadic populations had significantly higher odds than urban dwellers. CONCLUSION: Food insecurity in Somalia operates through complex, intersecting pathways of sociodemographic vulnerability and pronounced geographical inequalities. Food insecurity in Somalia results from a complex, multifaceted crisis spanning social, political, economic, and environmental domains. Effective interventions must simultaneously address educational infrastructure development, provide targeted support for vulnerable demographic groups, and implement place-based strategies that recognize the extreme geographic clustering of vulnerability across Somalia's diverse regions.