FOOD SECURITY AND COPING STRATEGIES ADOPTED BY HOUSEHOLDS DURING ECONOMIC HARDSHIP IN TWO SELECTED LOW-INCOME AREAS (DOKA AND BIRSHIN FULANI) IN BAUCHI METROPOLIST

Food insecurity remains a critical challenge in Nigeria, particularly in rural and low-income urban areas where economic hardship, poverty, and limited infrastructure intersect. This study assessed the food security status and identified the coping strategies adopted by households during periods of economic hardship in Doka and Birshi wards of Bauchi Metropolis. A cross-sectional study design was employed, and data were collected from 350 households selected through stratified random sampling, using structured questionnaires. The findings reveal a severe prevalence of food insecurity, with only 6.0% of households classified as food secure. The majority experienced moderate (47.1%) or severe (29.3%) food insecurity. Common coping strategies included relying on less preferred and cheaper foods (70.6%), limiting meal portion sizes (65.7%), and reducing the number of meals eaten per day (50.0%). More severe strategies, such as skipping entire days without eating (21.1%) and sending children to eat with neighbors (50.0%), were also reported. Statistical analysis showed significant associations between food insecurity and key socio-economic variables; lower monthly income and lower educational attainment were strongly linked to a higher likelihood of skipping meals, eating less, and employing more severe coping mechanisms (p < 0.05). The study concludes that food insecurity is widespread in the study area and is intrinsically linked to poverty and educational status. The coping strategies adopted, while necessary for short-term survival, are largely erosive and threaten long-term household resilience. The study recommends the implementation of multi-faceted interventions, including income-generation programs, targeted food subsidies, and community-based education on resource management, to enhance food access and build sustainable resilience among vulnerable households in Bauchi State.