Hunger, Food Charity and Social Policy – Challenges Faced by the Emerging Evidence Base

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Lambie-Mumford ◽  
Elizabeth Dowler
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Charity

This review builds on issues raised in the themed section relating to household level food insecurity, and the food charity response specifically. It looks at key elements in the development of this body of work and at some of the evidence gaps which remain. In particular, it engages with literature on determinants of household food insecurity with relevance to social policy (for example sufficiency of income), and on research which has examined charitable food responses through the lens of food insecurity. The review is necessarily limited in scope and therefore does not cover other elements of household food insecurity and food charity, including research on nutrition or food skills, or work on food charity operation, food sourcing and reach, for example.

scholarly journals Comparing measures of urban food security in Accra, Ghana

Food Security ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cascade Tuholske ◽  
Kwaw Andam ◽  
Jordan Blekking ◽  
Tom Evans ◽  
Kelly Caylor
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Poor Correlation ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Urban Food Security ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Food Insecurity Access

AbstractThe urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to expand by nearly 800 million people in the next 30 years. How this rapid urban transition is affecting household-level urban food security, and reverberating into broader food systems, is poorly understood. To fill this gap, we use data from a 2017 survey (n = 668) of low- and middle-income residents of Accra, Ghana, to characterize and compare the predictors of household-level food security using three established metrics: the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS); the Household Food Insecurity Access Prevalence (HFIAP); and the Food Consumption Score (FCS). According to HFIAP, 70% of sampled households are food insecure, but only 2% fall below acceptable thresholds measured by FCS. Only one household reported sourcing food from modern supermarkets and fewer than 3% produce food for consumption through gardening, farming, or fishing. Instead, households rely on purchased food from traditional markets, local stalls and kiosks, and street hawkers. Results from a suite of general linear models show that household assets, education, and demographic characteristics are significantly associated with food security outcomes according to HFIAS and HFIAP. The poor correlation and weak model agreement between dietary recall such as FCS, and experience-based food security metrics, like HFIAS and HFIAP, highlight limitations of employing historically rural-centric food security measurement approaches within the urban context. Given that Sub-Saharan Africa’s future is urban, our results add empirical evidence in support of the growing chorus of scholars advocating for comprehensive urban-oriented food security research and policy agendas across Sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Household food insecurity and coping strategies in Southern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mesfin Melese ◽  
Minyahel Tilahun ◽  
Mebratu Alemu
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Food Shortage ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Household Food ◽  
And Coping

Abstract Background Hunger and undernourishment are the main challenges of today’s world and 960 million people are hungry and undernourished. Food insecurity is an enduring, critical challenge in Ethiopia. Majority of the previous studies overlooked relevant determinant factors which affect the occurrence of food insecurity. This study aims to investigate household level food insecurity determinate factors and coping strategies used in the study area. Method Explanatory and descriptive research was designed to assess household food insecurity and coping strategies in Analemmo district of southern Ethiopia. A multi-stage purposive sampling technique was used for the purpose of this study. Two hundred households were selected systematically following list of food insecure households. Econometric models were employed using binary logit model. Household calorie acquisition was calculated to categorize households into food secure and food insecurely status. Results The survey result showed that 64% of the respondents were food insecure. Variables such as agro-ecology, age and education status, number of oxen, soil and water conservation, amount of credit, cultivated land size and receiving remittance were negatively but significantly (P < 0.05) affected households' food insecurity level. Female and young groups of the community were more food insecure as compared to others groups. The community was coping food shortage by relying on less preferred and less expensive food followed by participating in off-farm activities and borrowing food. Housesholds in the study area were utilizing less preferred foods to cope up food shortage and starvation. Conclusion Efforts of different developmental organizations should give due emphasis to household's wealth level, female-headed household and young and old-aged members of the community. Crop land production supported by modern agricultural technologies and information can reduce agricultural risks, and enhance productivity per unit land.

scholarly journals Household level determinants of food insecurity in rural areas of Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (30) ◽  
pp. 1914-1926
Author(s):  
Ayalneh Bogale ◽  
◽  
Shimelis A ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural Households ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Dire Dawa

Even though the struggle to achieve food security at the household level in the rural areas of Ethiopia dates back a long period, it has remained as a challenging goal even today. Making their living on marginal, moisture stressed, heavily degraded and less productive land, households in rural areas of Dire Dawa face persistent food shortages. The design and implementation of effective measures to reduce household food insecurity in the region depends on in-depth understanding of its covariates. This study seeks to address these issues by assessing location specific socio-economic factors that influence food insecurity of households in rural areas of Dire Dawa Administrative region. The analysis is based on survey data gathered from randomly selected 115 sample rural households in the study area. A binary logit model was used to identify the factors influencing household level food insecurity. A total of thirteen explanatory variables were included in the empirical model. The empirical results estimated using the survey data to identify the determinants of food insecurity among rural households in the study area revealed mixed impressions. Among variables considered , family size, annual income, amount of credit received, access to irrigation, age of household head, farm size, and livestock owned showed theoretically consistent and statistically significant effect. However, estimated coefficients of number of oxen owned and dependency ratio showed theoretically inconsistent and statistically insignificant effect on the probability of household to be food insecure.. Estimated coefficients of sex of household head, total off-farm income, education of household head and amount of food aid received were not found to be statistically significant in determining household food insecurity in the study area. The findings imply that improvement in food security situation needs to build assets, improve the functioning of rural financial markets and promote family planning. These areas could provide entry points for policy intervention to reduce hunger and augment household and community livelihood opportunities.

scholarly journals Hunger in the midst of plenty: A survey of household food security among urban families in Lagos State, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alero Ann Roberts ◽  
James Olufemi Osadare ◽  
Victor Akpan Inem
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
National Level ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Lagos State

Research has documented that food security at national level does not translate to food security at household level. The study assessed the level of food security among urban households in Shomolu LGA, Lagos State. Using the 9-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) information was collected from 306 heads of households on adequacy of food availability and consumption. Data were analyzed using Epi info and presented as frequencies and percentages. Associations between variables were tested using Chisquare at a significance level of 0.05. Households were classified as food secure, food insecure without hunger and food insecure with hunger. Only 33.8% of households were food secure, 45.1% were food insecure without hunger and 21.1% were food insecure with hunger. Food secure households were statistically significantly associated with households where heads had secondary or higher education, women were married, spending <40% of household monthly income on food and living in their own homes (P=0.001). Household food insecurity is found in urban communities and is positively associated with indicators of poverty.

scholarly journals Using Household Fit Indices to Examine the Psychometric Quality of Food Insecurity Measures

2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 1089-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Engelhard ◽  
Matthew P. Rabbitt ◽  
Emily M. Engelhard
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Fit Indices ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Psychometric Quality

This study focuses on model–data fit with a particular emphasis on household-level fit within the context of measuring household food insecurity. Household fit indices are used to examine the psychometric quality of household-level measures of food insecurity. In the United States, measures of food insecurity are commonly obtained from the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM, 18 items) of the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS). These measures, in various forms, are used to inform national programs and policies related to food insecurity. Data for low-income households with children from recent administrations of the HFSSM (2012-2014) are used in this study ( N = 7,324). The results suggest that there are detectable levels of misfit with Infit mean square error (MSE) statistics ranging from 6.73 % to 21.33% and Outfit MSE statistics ranging from 5.31% to 9.68%. The data suggest for Outfit MSE statistics that (a) male respondents, (b) respondents with lower levels of education, and (c) respondents who did not report participating in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly the Food Stamp Program) tend to have more misfit. For Infit MSE statistics, lack of homeownership appears to be a predictor of misfit. The implications of this research for future research, theory, and policy related to the measurement of household food insecurity are discussed.

scholarly journals Bayesian regression model with application to a study of food insecurity in household level: a cross sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yenesew Fentahun Gebrie
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Bayesian Estimation ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Land Size

Abstract Background Food insecurity is a situation in which access to sufficient food is limited at times during the year by a lack of money and other resources. Even though several efforts were made to recover food security, still it is a critical social problem that needs immediate attention from policy and other decision makers especially in Ethiopia. The objective of the paper was to identify the significant predictors of food insecurity at household level in the given District. Method A cross-sectional survey study was employed among 305 households selected using systematic random sampling technique. The data was collected using structured interviewer administrative questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used to assess the prevalence of food insecurity status, and Bayesian estimation on binary logistic regression was used to identify the significant predictors of household food insecurity. Gibbs sampler algorithm was employed on Win BUGS software. Convergence of algorithm was assessed by using time series plot, density plot and auto correlation plot. Result The prevalence of household food insecurity was 59% in the study District. From Bayesian estimation, the significant predictors of food insecurity were sex of household head, agro-ecological zone, loan status, access to agricultural training, age of household head, marital status of household head, family size, agricultural land size, tropical livestock unit, and soil fertility of agricultural land. Conclusion The result shows that the households headed by male; who had own land, who land fertile soil, and those who took agricultural training were less likely to be food insecure. On the other hand, households with large family size, small farm land size and less tropical livestock unit were more likely to be food insecure. Hence, to increase food production and productivity of the farmers, proper attention should be given to improve soil fertility of agricultural land. Creating access to credit to households and providing them with agricultural training and family planning should be also emphasized.

A Cross-National Examination of Food Insecurity and Gender Equality

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Amanda Wyant
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Household Food ◽  
The World ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cross National

Women’s equality has been positively linked to household food security in many countries. Since women still do the bulk of food labor, women’s empowerment can lead to an increase in the allocation of resources toward food, improving food security. However, we do not know how country-level laws of gender equality intersect with household-level actions. This study examines household food insecurity from a cross-national and multilevel perspective. I explore the relationship between gender inequality (in terms of both opinions and laws) and household food insecurity. I use household data from the World Values Survey, Wave 6, collected in 2010 through 2014. The analytic sample includes 42 countries and 37,152 individuals. My country-level data come from the World Bank and the Social Institutions and Gender Index. I find that positive measures of women’s empowerment at the household level reduce a household’s likelihood of food insecurity. Surprisingly, I find that country-level policies do not always create the intended outcomes of increased equality. Legal equality between men and women at the country level (financial, legal, and land ownership) does not have a direct relationship with food insecurity. However, legal equality moderates the relationship between food insecurity and country-level variables (agricultural exports and urbanization) and household-level variables (income). The research suggests that the inclusion of gender equality complicates development theory.

Hunger and charitable emergency food provision in the UK and beyond

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Lambie-Mumford
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Policy Context ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Provision ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Food Charity

Chapter 2 discusses in more detail the rise of food charity in the United Kingdom. It provides international, historical and policy context to this rise as well as an exploration of current knowledge relating to household food insecurity in the UK.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 on child malnutrition, obesity in women and household food insecurity in underserved urban settlements in Sri Lanka: a prospective follow up study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Renuka Jayatissa ◽  
Himali Herath ◽  
Amila Gayan Perera ◽  
Thulasika Thejani Dayaratne ◽  
Nawmali Dhanuska De Alwis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Child Malnutrition ◽  
Nutrition Status ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Urban Settlements

Abstract Objectives: To determine changes and factors associated with child malnutrition, obesity in women and household food insecurity before and after the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A prospective follow up study. Setting: In 2019, the baseline Urban Health and Nutrition Study (UHNS-2019) was conducted in 603 households, which were selected randomly from 30 clusters to represent underserved urban settlements in Colombo. In the present study, 35% of households from the UHNS-2019 cohort were randomly selected for repeat interviews, one year after the baseline study and 6 months after COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. Height/length and weight of children and women were re-measured, household food insecurity was reassessed, and associated factors were gathered through interviewer administered questionnaires. Differences in measurements at baseline and follow-up studies were compared. Participants: A total of 207 households, comprising 127 women and 109 children were included. Results: The current prevalence of children with wasting and overweight was higher in the follow-up study than at baseline UHNS-2019 (18.3%vs13.7%;p=0.26 and 8.3%vs3.7%;p=0.12 respectively). There was a decrease in prevalence of child stunting (14.7%vs11.9%;p=0.37). A change was not observed in overall obesity in women, which was around 30.7%. Repeated lockdown was associated with a significant reduction in food security from 57% in UHNS-2019 to 30% in the current study (p<0.001). Conclusions: There was an increase in wasting and overweight among children while women had a persistent high prevalence of obesity. This population needs suitable interventions to improve nutrition status of children and women to minimise susceptibility to COVID-19.

scholarly journals Household food insecurity and health in a high migration area in rural Honduras

2021 ◽  
pp. 100885
Author(s):  
Sanjeev Kumar ◽  
Nicholas A. Christakis ◽  
Rafael Pérez-Escamilla
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Food ◽  
High Migration
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