Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Entomophagy in Nambale Sub County, Kenya
Publication Date
2021-02Author
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ArticleMetadata
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Abstract/ Overview
Entomophagy describes the practice of eating insects by humans. Globally, there are over 3000 ethnic groups that consume insects. The main aim of this study was to determine the socio economic factors affecting entomophagy in Nambale Sub County, Kenya. The study assumed cross sectional survey design with a sample size of 171.The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi square tests, with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 20. Multi-linear regression was used to test the significance of association between the independent variables and the dependent variable while correlation was used to quantify the strength of the relationship between the continuous variables. Entomophagy was significantly related with socio-economic factors (p<0.05). Socioeconomic factors also had a positive influence on entomophagy (t=2.260, p=0.026) The gender of respondents (OR=2.2;95%C1.74.3), p=0.008) occupation (OR=2.5;95%CI= (1.5.9), p=0.032), education levels (OR=0.9;95%CI=(0.4), p=0.039), land ownership type (OR=3.46;95% CI= (1.92-7.58), p=0.000), household size (OR=2.46;95% CI= (1.335.31), p=0.012), size of land (OR=0.67;95% CI= (0.36-2.28), p=0.721). Socio-economic factors have a statistically significant effect on entomophagy in Nambale Sub-County, Kenya. The study recommends that there should be efforts to equip residents of Nambale sub-county with knowledge regarding the benefits of entomophagy on nutrition. It further recommends conservation of traditional insect harvesting sites.