Demographic characteristics of rural households by poverty Status: A case of Kuyu District, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

The major Objective of this study was to look into Demographic characteristics of rural households by poverty status in Kuyu District, Central Ethiopia. In order to attain this objective, relevant data were collected through structured interview. The generated data were computed through descriptive (frequencies, percentages, ratios, mean values, standard deviation, standard error) and t-test inferential statistics to analyze desired household characteristics to poor and non-poor categories in Kuyu district. Hence, Comparing with Non-poor rural households, Poor rural households have less average of family size (AE) in Kuyu district in general and in all agro-ecological zones in particular than Non-poor Households showing significant difference at 1 percent significance level. There was insignificant mean difference between poor and non-poor with regard to dependence ratio and female –male ratio of rural households in the study area and across agro- ecological zone at 5 percent significance level. There was also insignificant mean difference between poor and non-poor in terms of average age household heads at 5 percent significance level in Kuyu district in general and Weynadega agro-ecological zone in particular. However, there was significant mean difference between poor and non-poor in terms of average age household heads at 5 percent significance level in Dega and Kola agro-ecological zone of Kuyu district. Our final conclusion is that effort should be made to improve the demographic factors to alleviate rural poverty of Kuyu district.