Authors : Zubair O. M.; A. T. Adeboyejo; M. A. Adeniji

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/4pwztb53

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/2fmrm7nx

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14921253

Abstract : The literature on poverty is though replete with theoretical discussions and empirical analysis however, empirical studies on the spatial variations, social and environmental dynamics as well as response patterns to poverty, particularly in the study area are yet to emerge. This study therefore evaluates the varying levels of poverty among households and their response patterns in selected communities of Oyo State, Nigeria. Data on Socio-economic characteristics of household heads, their assets, monthly earnings, expenditures, and responses to poverty were collected across the study area with the aid of 1002 questionnaires. The data collected were subjected to cross-tabulation for possible spatial variations, while the incidence of poverty and related characteristics were analysed using Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) Model. Results show that majority of households were male headed (79.9%) and within working class ages (77.2%) but, with weak economic base. Given a poverty line of US$1.25 per day (₦1,029), the poverty headcount (P0) = 0.61, depth (P1) = 0.28 and severity (P2) = 0.11 were recorded and this implied that 61.0% of households were poor having earned below the poverty line. In response to pervasive poverty, households have resorted to family planning (4.03), buying food on credit (3.95), reduction of eating times (3.90), withdrawal of ward from school (3.86) and sale of farm implements and assets (3.85) among other strategies to cope with poverty predicaments. The study concludes that asset acquisition and infrastructure development were inadequate, affecting both the quality of housing environment and services by existing social amenities. Thus, prioritising interventions to address under- and unemployment and basic education cum skill acquisition trainings among others are possible alternatives to aid coping mechanisms.

Keywords : The literature on poverty is though replete with theoretical discussions and empirical analysis however, empirical studies on the spatial variations, social and environmental dynamics as well as response patterns to poverty, particularly in the study area are yet to emerge. This study therefore evaluates the varying levels of poverty among households and their response patterns in selected communities of Oyo State, Nigeria. Data on Socio-economic characteristics of household heads, their assets, monthly earnings, expenditures, and responses to poverty were collected across the study area with the aid of 1002 questionnaires. The data collected were subjected to cross-tabulation for possible spatial variations, while the incidence of poverty and related characteristics were analysed using Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) Model. Results show that majority of households were male headed (79.9%) and within working class ages (77.2%) but, with weak economic base. Given a poverty line of US$1.25 per day (₦1,029), the poverty headcount (P0) = 0.61, depth (P1) = 0.28 and severity (P2) = 0.11 were recorded and this implied that 61.0% of households were poor having earned below the poverty line. In response to pervasive poverty, households have resorted to family planning (4.03), buying food on credit (3.95), reduction of eating times (3.90), withdrawal of ward from school (3.86) and sale of farm implements and assets (3.85) among other strategies to cope with poverty predicaments. The study concludes that asset acquisition and infrastructure development were inadequate, affecting both the quality of housing environment and services by existing social amenities. Thus, prioritising interventions to address under- and unemployment and basic education cum skill acquisition trainings among others are possible alternatives to aid coping mechanisms.

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