Application of Nonfood Coping Strategies in assessing in Food security in Rural areas of Gorgan

Coping strategy Index (CSI) is one of the indices to measure food security. This index is one of the simplest، most accurate and prevalent indices of measuring food security in any society which correlate easily with other indices of food security. Coping strategy indices are classified in to two groups of food and non food coping strategies. In this research work with usage of non food coping strategies food security situation of rural households of Gorgan is measured. A sample with the size of 267 selected with application of stratified random sampling method from five rural district of County. Result of K mean cluster analyzes shows that rural households of Gorgan are classified in 3 groups including low level of food insecurity، moderately food insecure and severely food insecure. Results of LOGIT model indicates that variables such as annual income، employment situation of household head، chronic illness of one of household members، education level of spouse، number of household member، education level of household head، and access to credit have effect on the value of nonfood coping strategy.