www.eprajournals.com Volume: 5| Issue: 10 | October 2019 151 EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) Peer Reviewed Journal Volume: 5 | Issue: 10 | October 2019 || SJIF Impact Factor: 5.614||ISI I.F Value: 1. 188 ISSN (Online): 2455-3662 FOOD SECURITY STATUS AND FOOD CONSUMPTION AMONG URBAN AND RURAL PREGNANT WOMEN OF JASHORE DISTRICT IN BANGLADESH Eyad Ahmed 1 1 Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore-7408, Bangladesh Israt Jahan 2 2 Department of Public Health Nutrition, Primeasia University, Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh Md. Asadul Islam 3 3 Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore-7408, Bangladesh ABSTRACT Introduction: The study aimed to explore food security status and food consumption pattern among urban and rural pregnant women of Jashore district in Bangladesh. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study on 154 randomly selected pregnant women from rural (N=77) and urban (N=77) area of Jashore district. Food security status was determined using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and food consumption was assessed by Food Consumption Score (FCS). Results: The mean age of the respondents was 25 years and 56.5% of the respondents were in their third trimester and 43.5% were in their second and first trimester. Monthly household income (in BDT), husband’s occupation and education, respondent’s occupation and education were found significantly higher (P< .05) in urban area. Significant association (P< .05) was found between household food insecurity access and area. Mean Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) score was found higher in rural area than that of urban area. About 58% of respondents had highly acceptable food consumption, and 35% reported of acceptable food consumption and only about 7% was found with borderline food consumption status. Food consumption pattern of the respondents was significantly (P< .05) different between rural and urban areas, monthly food expense categories, number of earning members, monthly household income categories. Conclusion: The study revealed that no respondents of the urban setting was experiencing any levels of food insecurity and only 7.8% of rural pregnant women was experiencing food insecurity of mild and moderate level. KEYWORDS: Food security, food consumption, pregnant women, Bangladesh.