Demographic and socioeconomic determinants influencing households’ engagement in out-of-home food consumption in the Western region of Ghana

Evidence indicates that foods consumed outside the home are often more energy-dense and less nutrient-rich than home-prepared meals, contributing to poorer dietary quality and increased risks of overweight, obesity, and other diet-related non-communicable diseases. Therefore, the study sought to examine the extent to which demographic and socioeconomic determinants influence households’ engagement in out-of-home food consumption in the Western region of Ghana. The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design and applied a four multistage sampling technique to select 1,200 household heads from eight communities across four districts in the Western region. The study was conducted from 5 June 2025 to 4 June 2026. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire developed to measure the variables of interest. The data were analyzed using frequency distributions, Pearson’s chi-square test, and binary logistic regression in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27, with the level of statistical significance set at 0.05. The study found that the majority of households (54.5%) had engaged in out-of-home food consumption, while 45.5% did not. The study found that households with a tertiary school education (AOR = 1.543; 95% CI: 1.014–2.347; p =.043), and females (AOR = 1.461; 95% CI: 1.047–2.037; p =.026) had greater odds of engaging in out-of-home food consumption. The study found that households with a secondary school education (AOR=0.442; 95% CI: 0.295-0.663; p <.001), those with a vocational training school education (AOR=0.135; 95% CI: 0.079-0.231; p <.001), and rural dwellers (AOR=0.140; 95% CI: 0.308-0.547; p <.001) had lower odds of engaging in out-of-home food consumption. The study findings demonstrate that demographic and socioeconomic factors significantly influence households’ engagement in out-of-home food consumption. It highlights the need for targeted nutrition education, public health interventions, and food policies aimed at promoting healthier out-of-home food choices and improving food safety standards, particularly among urban and highly educated populations.