Prevalence of Household Food Insecurity in East Africa: Linking Food Access with Climate Vulnerability

Background COVID-19 has disrupted food access and impacted food insecurity, which is associated with numerous adverse individual and public health outcomes. Methods We conducted a statewide population-level survey in Vermont from March 29-April 12, 2020, during the beginning of a statewide stay-at-home order. We utilized the USDA six-item validated food security module to measure food insecurity before COVID-19 and since COVID-19. We assessed food insecurity prevalence and reported food access challenges, coping strategies, and perceived helpful interventions among food secure, consistently food insecure (pre-and post COVID-19), and newly food insecure (post COVID-19) respondents. Results Among 3,219 respondents, there was a 33% increase in household food insecurity since COVID-19 (p<0.001), with 35.6% of food insecure households classified as newly food insecure. Respondents experiencing a job loss were more likely to experience food insecurity (OR 3.43; 95% CI, 2.45-4.80). Multiple physical and economic barriers, as well as concerns related to food access during COVID-19, are reported, with respondents experiencing household food insecurity more likely to face access challenges (p<0.001). Significant differences in coping strategies were documented between respondents in newly food insecure vs. consistently insecure households. Conclusions Since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in food insecurity in Vermont, accompanied by major food access barriers. These findings have important potential impacts on individual health, including mental health and malnutrition, as well as on future healthcare costs. We suggest proactive strategies to address food insecurity during this crisis.

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Magnitude of Urban Household Food Insecurity in East Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021003529 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-27

Author(s):

Bereket Gebremichael ◽

Biruk Beletew ◽

Melaku Bimerew ◽

Demewoz Haile ◽

Sibhatu Biadgilign ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

East Africa ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Household Head ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Urban Household ◽

Household Food

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude and determinants of urban household food insecurity in East Africa. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis Setting: Studies conducted in East Africa Participants: Seventeen studies (fifteen cross-sectional and two cohort) that enrolled 156,996 households. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to search electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, African Journals OnLine, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar; date of last search: 10 June 2020) for studies reporting the prevalence and associated factors of urban household food insecurity. Results: A total of 17 studies with 156,996 households from eight countries were used for the analysis. The pooled prevalence of urban household food insecurity in East Africa was 60.91% (95%CI; 47.72–74.11; I2=100%; p<0.001) where the highest (91%) and lowest (36.5%) was observed in Sudan and Burundi, respectively. Household head educational status (illiterate) (AOR = 2.53; 95% CI: 2.11-2.95, I2=90%; p<0.01), female as household head (AOR=1.45; 95%CI: 1.16-1.75; I2=0.0%; p=0.993), large family size (AOR=1.43;95% CI:1.09-1.76, I2=0.0%; p=0.863) and poorest wealth quantile (AOR=3.95;95% CI: 1.93-5.98; I2= 57.2%, p=0.053) were factors which significantly increased odds of urban household food insecurity in East Africa. Conclusions: The prevalence of urban household food insecurity in East Africa remains high. Therefore, policies and intervention programs should be designed to reduce the high burden of food insecurity among urban households considering the identified factors.

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Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) for Measurement of Food Access: Indicator Guide: Version 3

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e576842013-001 ◽

2007 ◽

Cited By ~ 234

Author(s):

Jennifer Coates ◽

Anne Swindale ◽

Paula Bilinsky

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Food Access ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Household Food ◽

Food Insecurity Access

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Food Bank Usage Is a Poor Indicator of Food Insecurity: Insights from Canada

Social Policy and Society ◽

10.1017/s1474746415000184 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 443-455 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Rachel Loopstra ◽

Valerie Tarasuk

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Food Access ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Food Banks ◽

Policy Recommendations ◽

Food Bank ◽

Household Food ◽

Representative Subset ◽

Poor Indicator ◽

Regular Measurement

This article reflects on the insights afforded by the regular measurement and monitoring of household food insecurity in Canada juxtaposed against information on food bank usage in the population. We show that the number and characteristics of people using food banks suggest that this population is a non-representative subset of the food insecure population. We also highlight how the number of people using food banks is insensitive to the level of household food insecurity in the population. Who goes to food banks is a function of the nature of food bank operations and the severity of food insecurity. Representative data on household food insecurity should be regularly collected and utilised to make policy recommendations for interventions to address the problem of insecure food access.

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Validation of the food access survey tool to assess household food insecurity in rural Bangladesh

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-015-2208-1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Muzi Na ◽

Alden L. Gross ◽

Keith P. West

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Food Access ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Survey Tool ◽

Rural Bangladesh ◽

Household Food

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Household food insecurity and hunger in Babile district, Ethiopia

International Journal of Social Economics ◽

10.1108/ijse-02-2020-0057 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (10) ◽

pp. 1225-1242

Author(s):

Chanyalew Seyoum Aweke ◽

Edward Lahiff ◽

Muluken Gezahegn Wordofa ◽

Jemal Y. Hassen

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Qualitative Methods ◽

Food Access ◽

Household Head ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Eastern Ethiopia ◽

Content Type ◽

Household Food ◽

Female Headed Households ◽

Quantitative And Qualitative Methods

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine household food gap and food insecurity in Eastern Ethiopia. Differences in food gap and food insecurity were also examined in terms of gender of the household head and location.Design/methodology/approachA combination of quantitative and qualitative methods such as household survey, key informant interview and focused group discussion were utilized for this study. Households were drawn randomly from the study area.FindingsIn terms of food availability, more than half of the households experienced a food gap during the year, especially during the months of July and August. In terms of gender, female-headed households had more months of food shortage compared to their male counterparts. This disparity was also reflected in poorer food access among female-headed households as shown by the higher HFIAS. Differences in food insecurity were obtained in terms of gender of the household head and location. Livestock ownership, cereal crop production, extension contact and household size significantly influenced household food access.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are valid only for low-land agroecologiesOriginality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature by examining household food gap and food insecurity using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. It adds value in examining disparities between male-headed and female-headed households. Literature related to seasonal household food insecurity is limited in Ethiopia. This study contributes in this regard by examining seasonal food insecurity between post-harvest and pre-harvest seasons.

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Household food insecurity and association with sociodemographic factors in Abidjan

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.220 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

J Sackou Kouakou ◽

Y H Lobilé ◽

K L Kouadio Kouakou

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Marital Status ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Food Access ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Household Food

Abstract Background Surveys in Côte d'Ivoire have shown an increase in food insecurity. In rural areas, it rose from 12.6% in 2009 to 20% in 2013. The situation was even more serious in urban areas, with 71% of households experiencing food insecurity. In peri-urban areas resulting from inappropriate urbanization, the food security situation may present others specificities compared to the urban area. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the present situation of food security in a peri-urban neighborhood in Abidjan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 648 households in April 2019. A structured interview was conducted. The questionnaire included households'sociodemographic characteristics on one side and measures of three food access indicators on the other. Those indicators were household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), household dietary diversity score (HDDS) and household food consumption score (HFCS). Statistical analyses were carried out using Chi square test. Results Cereals and tubers were the most consumed foods 91.2% and 59.3% respectively. Few households consumed dairy products (1.4%), fruit (2%) and vegetables (7.9%). HFCS was adequate at 99.2% and HDDS was high in 44.2% of households. Only 3.8% of households were food secure. HFCS was related to the household head's age (p = 0.04). HDDS was associated with the sex and marital status of the household's head (respectively p = 0.019 and p < 0.001) while education levels and marital status were related to severe food insecurity (HFIAS) (p = 0.002 and p = 0.005 respectively). Conclusions Our results highlight that some sociodemographic factors are related with the food security. Therefore, policymakers, producers and consumers should work together to better understand food access in periruban area and to help improve the food environment in ivorian cities. Key messages People in Abidjan still lack dietary diversification and experience food insecurity. It is important to work on factors such as education level to improve food security.

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