The Impact of Dosage Variability of Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance on Food Security in Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

Abstract Objectives While food and cash-assistance have been shown to improve food security in Syrian refugees living in Lebanon, no studies have investigated dosage variability of cash transfers on food security in this setting. We assessed the impact of short- (≤12 months) and long-term (>12 months) multi-purpose cash assistance (MPC) provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over and above food assistance, and the impact of discontinuation from MPC, on food security of Syrian refugees. Methods We used a quasi-experimental fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD). A multi-dimensional household survey collected data in three-waves, at 6-month intervals. Households were sampled from a listing of registered Syrian refugees with WFP/UNHCR Vulnerability scores +/−10 points around the eligibility cut-off for MPC. Of 17,740 households approached, 11,457 completed the survey (65%). We assessed household food insecurity using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and Livelihood Coping Strategies Index and diet quality using Food Consumption Score (FCS), and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS). We estimated the treatment effect of MPC using two-stage least squares regression controlling for demographic characteristics (age, sex, head of household education) and receipt of other cash assistance. Results Food insecurity experience in those receiving long-term MPC decreased (P < 0.05), with a concomitant 7.7 percentage point decrease in reliance on emergency coping strategies (P < 0.01). Long-term MPC recipients had a 6 point increase in FCS (P < 0.01) along with an increase in diet diversity (P < 0.05), with higher consumption of vegetables, fish, chicken, and eggs found in both short-term and long-term MPC recipients. Conclusions There was a significant improvement in food security and diet quality among households receiving long-term MPC but not among those receiving short-term MPC (except for a small increase in diet diversity) or who were discontinued. Positive impact was observed above and beyond food assistance. Stability of assistance is therefore key in achieving impact from MPC n food security in this population. Funding Sources European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, German Federal Foreign Office, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and UK Aid, through CAMEALEON.

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Impacts of Climate Change: Can Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors Survive the Wave?

International Journal of Global Sustainability ◽

10.5296/ijgs.v4i1.17245 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 78

Author(s):

Talent Ndlovu ◽

Sylvain Charlebois

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Global Warming ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Holistic Approach ◽

Short Term ◽

Ocean Ecosystem ◽

The Impact ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

Studies have shown the impact of climate change on the ocean ecosystem and the fishing and aquaculture sectors. As global warming intensifies, this will impact communities and communities as the populations of some fish species decline or increase. Research on the impacts of climate change to fisheries will facilitate the development of policies, helping communities to adapt while ensuring resilience and sustainability of the sector(s). This paper assesses the short term and long-term impacts of climate change to the ocean ecosystem, the consequences to economies and communities that rely on fishing for food security. It begins with a review of peer reviewed literature, followed by an analysis of the current policies and ends with some recommendations for governments in the sustainability and management of the ecosystem in the future. Important to note is the impact of human generated hazards and how a more holistic approach to minimizing risks to the ocean ecosystem could resolve threats of food insecurity in future.

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Food security of food recipients of a food pantry and soup kitchen

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980018003658 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (8) ◽

pp. 1451-1460

Author(s):

Tamara Y Mousa ◽

Jeanne H Freeland-Graves

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Food Pantry ◽

Soup Kitchen ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectiveTo discern the impact of food donations provided by a food pantry and soup kitchen on food security.DesignIn this cross-sectional study, participants completed a demographic questionnaire, core food security module, FFQ and list of food donations. The FFQ was utilized to assess diet quality as estimated via the 2010 Healthy Eating Index.SettingClients were selected randomly from a food pantry and soup kitchen in Central Texas, USA.ParticipantsA total of 222 adults.ResultsApproximately 73 % of participants lacked food security. Compared with the food secure, the food insecure consisted of 61 % men, 42 % Caucasians, 56 % single and 67 % homeless. Also, of the food insecure, 60 % were soup kitchen clients and 64 % had an annual income <$US 1000 (P<0·01). The probability of food insecurity was reduced by ≥1·17-fold when the total dietary intake included the food donations, as these were rich in fruits, total vegetables and grains, dairy and protein foods (P<0·05).ConclusionsFood insecurity was quite prevalent in this sample of individuals who visited food pantries and soup kitchens. The addition of food donations improved the quality of the participants’ total diet and had a positive influence on food security. Thus, community organizations should financially support these food assistance agencies and strive to offer a variety of healthy and tasty foods in adequate quantities to provide optimum diet quality.

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POLA ANTISIPASI KERAWANAN PANGAN DAN PERAN KELEMBAGAAN LOKAL PADA DAERAH TERPENCIL DI KABUPATEN KONAWE

Jurnal Sosio Agribisnis ◽

10.33772/jsa.v3i2.7588 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Setsmy Setsmy ◽

Ayub M. Padangaran ◽

Ine Fausayana

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Food Shortage ◽

Food Crop ◽

Short Term ◽

Local Institution ◽

The Village

Study aim are: find out the level of food insecurity in Asinua distric of Awua Jaya Village Konawe Regency; to know the pattern of anticipation to food insecurity in remote village; to know the role of local institution toward the pattern of anticipation food insecurity that the communityhas done. This study was conducted in the village of Awua Jaya sub-district Asinua regency konawe March-July 2017. The result of study indicate that food insecurity in Asinua sub-distric is still in medium category tahat is at number three (3), where society experiencing food shortage about 3 month; the pattern of food insecurity anticipation in Awua Jaya village can be done in 2 ways, namely for the long term by increasing the productivity of rice crops through improving technology production and increasing the frequency of planting from one time to 2 time a year on irrigation repair conditions; and in the short term with the aid of food in the famine period from March to April each year. P3A intitutions have no institution related to food insecurity are transmigation service, food crop service, food security agency, farmer group and institutional P3A. The role of such institution has not existed except the transmigration offices that channel raskin 15 kg/3 months so it can not overcome food insecurity.Keywords: food insecurity; patterns of anticipation; the role of local institusions

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Changes in diet quality and food security among adults during the COVID-19–related early lockdown: results from NutriQuébec

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/nqaa363 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Benoît Lamarche ◽

Didier Brassard ◽

Annie Lapointe ◽

Catherine Laramée ◽

Michèle Kearney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Prevalence Ratio ◽

Temporal Changes ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Primary Study ◽

Web Based ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACT Background The impact that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–related early lockdown has had on dietary habits of the population and on food insecurity is unknown. Objective The aim of this study was to document the change in diet quality and in food insecurity observed during the COVID-19–related early lockdown. We hypothesized that the lockdown was associated with a deterioration in overall diet quality and an increase in food insecurity. Methods Data are from a COVID-19 subsample of NutriQuébec, a web-based cohort destined to study temporal changes in dietary habits among adults in Quebec, Canada. Participants completed questionnaires before (between June 2019 and February 2020) and during (April to May 2020) early lockdown, including a validated web-based 24-h recall (n = 853) and a questionnaire on food security (n = 922). Primary study outcomes were temporal changes in diet quality measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)–2015 and in the prevalence of food insecurity. Results There was a small increase in the HEI-2015 during the COVID-19 early lockdown compared with baseline (+1.1 points; 95% CI: 0.6, 1.5), mostly due to small improvements in the intakes of whole grains, greens and beans, refined grains, total vegetables, total dairy, seafood and plant proteins, added sugar, and total protein subscores of the HEI-2015. Exploratory analyses suggested that individuals aged 18–29 y (+3.6 points; 95% CI: 2.4, 4.7), participants with lower education (+1.9 points; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.6), or with obesity (+3.8 points; 95% CI: 2.7, 4.8) showed particularly important increases in the HEI-2015. The prevalence of food insecurity was reduced from 3.8% at baseline to 1.0% during the early lockdown (prevalence ratio = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.94). Conclusions Contrary to our hypotheses, diet quality has slightly improved and prevalence of food insecurity was reduced in this sample of adults from Quebec during the COVID-19–related early lockdown. These results may be generalizable only to relatively healthy populations.

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SUMBER-SUMBER RESILIENSI PADA REMAJA AKHIR YANG MENGALAMI KEKERASAN DARI ORANGTUA PADA MASA KANAK-KANAK

Psibernetika ◽

10.30813/psibernetika.v11i1.1161 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Devina Calista ◽

Garvin Garvin

Keyword(s):

Late Adolescents ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Parental Affection ◽

Resilience Factors ◽

Childhood Violence ◽

Past Experiences ◽

The Impact ◽

Depth Interviews

Child abuse by parents is common in households. The impact of violence on children will bring short-term effects and long-term effects that can be attributed to their various emotional, behavioral and social problems in the future; especially in late adolescence that will enter adulthood. Resilience factors increase the likelihood that adolescents who are victims of childhood violence recover from their past experiences, become more powerful individuals and have a better life. The purpose of this study was to determine the source of resilience in late adolescents who experienced violence from parents in their childhood. This research uses qualitative research methods with in-depth interviews as a method of data collection. The result shows that the three research participants have the aspects of "I Have", "I Am", and "I Can"; a participant has "I Can" aspects as a source of resilience, and one other subject has no source of resilience. The study concluded that parental affection and acceptance of the past experience have role to the three sources of resilience (I Have, I Am, and I Can) Keyword : Resilience, adolescence, violence, parents

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GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AMID THE GLOBAL CRISIS

EKONOMIKA I UPRAVLENIE: PROBLEMY, RESHENIYA ◽

10.36871/ek.up.p.r.2020.10.01.016 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (10) ◽

pp. 134-141

Author(s):

P. M. TARANOV ◽

◽

A. S. PANASYUK ◽

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Short Term ◽

Global Food Security ◽

Food Problem ◽

Supply Problem ◽

Coronavirus Infection ◽

Food Security Indicators ◽

Security Indicators ◽

Global Food

The authors assess the prospects for solving the global food problem based on an analysis of the dynamics of food security indicators at the global and regional levels. The global food problem at work refers to the growing population of a planet affected by hunger and other forms of malnutrition. The food security situation has worsened for five years - in 2015–2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the food supply problem. The prevalence of moderate to severe food insecurity has affected more than 25% of the world's population. In lowincome countries, malnutrition affects more than 58% of the population. Food security is threatened by the consequences of the spread of coronavirus infection in the short term. In the medium and long term, climate change and the crisis in the governance of the world economy are the greatest threats. Modern international economic institutions are unable to withstand the prospect of declining global food security.

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Food insecurity, diet quality and body composition: data from the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) pilot survey in urban Soweto, South Africa

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898002100046x ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Sarah H Kehoe ◽

Stephanie V Wrottesley ◽

Lisa Ware ◽

Alessandra Prioreschi ◽

Catherine Draper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Body Composition ◽

Food Security ◽

Body Size ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Urban Poor ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Healthy Life ◽

Life Trajectories

Abstract Objective: To determine whether food security, diet diversity and diet quality are associated with anthropometric measurements and body composition among women of reproductive age. The association between food security and anaemia prevalence was also tested. Design: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) study. Food security and dietary data were collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Hb levels were measured using a HemoCue, and anaemia was classified as an altitude-adjusted haemoglobin level < 12·5 g/dl. Body size and composition were assessed using anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Setting: The urban township of Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. Participants: Non-pregnant women aged 18–25 years (n 1534). Results: Almost half of the women were overweight or obese (44 %), and 9 % were underweight. Almost a third of women were anaemic (30 %). The prevalence rates of anaemia and food insecurity were similar across BMI categories. Food insecure women had the least diverse diets, and food security was negatively associated with diet quality (food security category v. diet quality score: B = –0·35, 95 % CI –0·70, –0·01, P = 0·049). Significant univariate associations were observed between food security and total lean mass. However, there were no associations between food security and body size or composition variables in multivariate models. Conclusions: Our data indicate that food security is an important determinant of diet quality in this urban-poor, highly transitioned setting. Interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition should recognise both food security and the food environment as critical elements within their developmental phases.

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Forecasting Revenue Impacts from COVID-19: The Case of Florida Municipalities

State and Local Government Review ◽

10.1177/0160323x211012056 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0160323X2110120

Author(s):

Hai (David) Guo ◽

Can Chen

Keyword(s):

Local Government ◽

Short Term ◽

Fiscal Planning ◽

Revenue Structure ◽

Municipal Managers ◽

The Impact

Early in the pandemic, Florida municipal managers indicated that forecasting the impact on local revenues was one of their top priorities in responding to the pandemic, yet such a tool has not been widely available. This study offers simple and straightforward fiscal planning guides for assessing the short-term and long-term impacts of the COVID 19 recession on local government revenues by estimating the revenue declines among 411 Florida municipalities from FY 2021 to FY 2023. The forecast results predict revenues will be reduced by $5.11 billion from 2019 pre-pandemic levels for Florida cities in fiscal years 2021 through 2023. The decline is forecast to be 3.54 percent in FY 2021, 4.02 percent in FY 2022, and 3.29 percent in FY 2023. The revenue structure matters for estimating the revenue decline.

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Paleolithic Diet—Effect on the Health Status and Performance of Athletes?

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13031019 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1019

Author(s):

Barbara Frączek ◽

Aleksandra Pięta ◽

Adrian Burda ◽

Paulina Mazur-Kurach ◽

Florentyna Tyrała

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Body Mass ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Model Assessment ◽

Paleolithic Diet ◽

Short Term ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Short And Long Term ◽

The Impact

The aim of this meta-analysis was to review the impact of a Paleolithic diet (PD) on selected health indicators (body composition, lipid profile, blood pressure, and carbohydrate metabolism) in the short and long term of nutrition intervention in healthy and unhealthy adults. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of 21 full-text original human studies was conducted. Both the PD and a variety of healthy diets (control diets (CDs)) caused reduction in anthropometric parameters, both in the short and long term. For many indicators, such as weight (body mass (BM)), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC), impact was stronger and especially found in the short term. All diets caused a decrease in total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), albeit the impact of PD was stronger. Among long-term studies, only PD cased a decline in TC and LDL-C. Impact on blood pressure was observed mainly in the short term. PD caused a decrease in fasting plasma (fP) glucose, fP insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the short run, contrary to CD. In the long term, only PD caused a decrease in fP glucose and fP insulin. Lower positive impact of PD on performance was observed in the group without exercise. Positive effects of the PD on health and the lack of experiments among professional athletes require longer-term interventions to determine the effect of the Paleo diet on athletic performance.

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Pilot testing an intervention to educate and promote nutritious choices at food pantries

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1007/s10389-021-01570-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah L. McKee ◽

Eminet Abebe Gurganus ◽

Abiodun T. Atoloye ◽

Ran Xu ◽

Katie Martin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Food System ◽

Saturated Fat ◽

Comparison Study ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Food Pantry ◽

Food Pantries ◽

Client Choice ◽

The Impact

Abstract Aim This study aimed to assess the impact of the Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) system on client food selections at a food pantry. Subject and methods In a pre–post comparison study design, a client-choice food pantry implemented SWAP by reorganizing its inventory to promote healthy options. Each product was ranked as “choose often” (green), “sometimes” (yellow), or “rarely” (red) based on saturated fat, sodium, and sugar. Signage was added to indicate each item’s SWAP rank and healthier foods were placed at eye level. Client food baskets were assessed at time 1 (n = 121) and time 2 (n = 101). The proportions of green and red foods selected were compared using regression analyses. Results The regression analyses showed that the proportion of green foods selected by clients increased by 11% (p < 0.001) and the proportion of red foods selected decreased by 7% (p < 0.001) after SWAP was implemented (n = 222). Conclusions SWAP has the potential to positively shift client choices among the items available in a food pantry setting. SWAP is one component of a suite of changes to the charitable food system that have the potential to alleviate food insecurity, improve diet quality, and assist clients in managing diet-related diseases.

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