Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on the Dietary Behaviors and Food Security of People in Rural Bangladesh

Abstract Objectives This study aims to examine how poor women perceived the impact of COVID-19 in their lives regarding daily routines, food acquisition and consumption, hygiene practices and access to health services in rural Bangladesh. Methods Questions about the perceived impact of COVID-19 were included as part of an evaluation survey of a community-based nutrition program, and assessed cross-sectionally in November-December 2020 among a total of 2960 poor or ultra-poor women. Results 84–87% of respondents perceived COVID-19 has affected their daily routine in the activities related to diet, work/school, income, social activities and to lesser extent, 78.8% in entertainment activities and 67.9% in health activity. For the current food acquisition and consumption compared to pre-COVID-19 situation, 77.3% reported less grocery shopping, 74.2% decreased activities of eating with someone else, 39.6% reduced consumption of fresh foods, and 23.4% decreased consumption of stable foods. Also, 92.3% of respondents experienced restriction to market access for food acquisition. In light of this, 74.4% of respondents found food assistance to be helpful coping with a negative impact of COVID-19, the highest among other assistances (below 10%). Only 25.7% of respondents reported wearing facial masks whenever out and 67.9% did not perceive any change of their health and hygiene practices after COVID-19. 58.7% of respondents responded that public health messages were helpful to cope with the current pandemic. Conclusions While COVID-19 has hit every area of routine and lives, food-related activities and assistance were perceived to be affected the hardest compared to other daily activities in rural Bangladesh. People fear about infections through gathering, not wearing masks, and going out, however, disease prevention practices does not follow as much as they fear. This study suggest that the food security intervention deserves urgent attention as well as educational information dissemination on the prevention and protection measures of COVID-19. Funding Sources World Vision Bangladesh, World Vision Korea, KOICA

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Impact of an Asset Transfer Program for Income Generation and Food Security Among Ultra-Poor Households in Rural Bangladesh

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzab045_074 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 692-692

Author(s):

Paige Volpenhein ◽

Yunjeong Kim ◽

MD.Iqbal Hussein ◽

Jaganmay Biswas ◽

Sunwoo Byun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Asset Management ◽

Income Generation ◽

Seasonal Trends ◽

Rural Bangladesh ◽

World Vision ◽

Poor Households ◽

Asset Transfer ◽

One Year

Abstract Objectives An economic development (ED) program, designed based on an ultra-poor graduation approach, was implemented to alleviate poverty and improve food security in rural Bangladesh through asset transfer. This study aims to compare income generation, consumption, and seasonal trends in asset management among ultra-poor households receiving different small assets. Methods A total of 2960 poor or ultra-poor households received (1) 9–26 ducks (n = 2125), (2) 11 chickens (n = 872), and/or (3) vegetable seeds with garden training (n = 2407), depending on living environment. Indicators related to production of assets, income generation, and consumption of assets were collected quarterly over the course of Jan-Dec 2019. Changes in the amount of assets, income generated from assets and asset byproducts, and consumption of assets and asset byproducts were compared across time and asset group type. Results Significant seasonal trends in the amount of production and income were found among all three asset groups over one year (all p < 0.001). The vegetable and duck groups reported their highest mean incomes at the Jan-Mar follow-up, and the chicken group reported its highest mean income at the July-Sept follow-up. A higher proportion of chicken households maintained their baseline asset provisions at one-year than duck households (29.2% vs. 18.2%, p < 0.001). The duck group reported higher average monthly income than the chicken group (811 TK vs. 480 TK; p < 0.001). The duck group consumed a greater number of eggs per month than the chicken group (55 eggs vs. 27 eggs; p < 0.001), while the chicken group consumed a greater number of poultry per month than the duck group (1.65 chickens vs. 0.95 ducks; p < 0.001). Conclusions Duck assets are better short-term income sources for the poor and ultra-poor than chicken assets in rural Bangladesh. Our findings in asset management, income generation, and consumption provide evidence of the impact of the graduation approach on ultra-poor household economies and should be considered in future scale-up of the ED program. Funding Sources World Vision Bangladesh, World Vision Korea, KOICA.

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An Information and Marketing System for Agrocomplex Sector Based on Reliable Digital Technology as a Supporting Capacity for Food Security in a Force Majeure Event

Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat ◽

10.22146/jpkm.62608 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 190

Author(s):

Endang Sulistiyaningsih ◽

Valentina Dwi Suci Handayani ◽

Widiastuti Setyaningsih ◽

Wahdan Fitriya ◽

Arif Wahyu Widada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Digital Media ◽

Information Dissemination ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Animal Husbandry ◽

Digital Information ◽

Marketing System ◽

Average Decrease ◽

Online Sales ◽

The Impact

The pandemic situation experienced by the world are currently threatening food security in various regions including Indonesia. In these regions, the flow of traffic in the agricultural and fisheries sectors, from the means of production to the distribution of the harvest, is choked up due to social restrictions in various parts of the region. As a strategic step to reduce the impact on the agricultural sector, it is necessary to accelerate information to support the stability of production and also to distribute production results. Digital media in agriculture are needed to provide education with a variety of contents, such as technical production, marketing, and agricultural finance information. The Faculty of Agriculture of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has supported digital information dissemination through the Desa Apps application. Desa Apps aims to be an application platform that provides agricultural extension and develops digital farmer communities. The information that has been carried out by Desa Apps so far includes agrocomplex sector (agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries) problems related to cultivation methods and obstacles faced in the land such as attack by plant pest and disease. As a digital media, the Desa Apps has educated farmer and aquaculturists. Optimization needs to be done to improve the performance of Desa Apps as a digital media, one of which is the marketing system that this application actually has. This study evaluates whether farmers and aquaculturists under the auspices of the Faculty of Agriculture are interested in being able to get education and at the same time be able to market their product directly to consumers with one application, the Desa Apps. The findings of the study showed that the pandemic period greatly affected the incomes of the assisted target community, and they required media that can help market their product. The decline in turnover due to pandemic conditions reached 70% with an average decrease of 39.2%. The method of selling products has changed from conventional to online sales by 20% of the total respondents. Changes in sales methods occurred due to distribution limitations due to regional and activity restrictions during the pandemic. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the Desa Apps application as a digital media to support food security.

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The impact of Gonoshasthaya Kendra's Micro Health Insurance plan on antenatal care among poor women in rural Bangladesh

BioScience Trends ◽

10.5582/bst.2012.v6.4.165 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 165-175

Author(s):

Mohammad Touhidul Islam

Keyword(s):

Health Insurance ◽

Antenatal Care ◽

Insurance Plan ◽

Health Insurance Plan ◽

Micro Health Insurance ◽

Rural Bangladesh ◽

Poor Women ◽

The Impact

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Hygiene Practices During Food Preparation in Rural Bangladesh: Opportunities to Improve the Impact of Handwashing Interventions

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.4269/ajtmh.15-0377 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 95 (2) ◽

pp. 288-297 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Fosiul A. Nizame ◽

Elli Leontsini ◽

Stephen P. Luby ◽

Md. Nuruzzaman ◽

Shahana Parveen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Preparation ◽

Rural Bangladesh ◽

Hygiene Practices ◽

The Impact

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THE IMPACT OF STATE REGULATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION ON FOOD SECURITY IN RUSSIA

Economy, labor, management in agriculture ◽

10.33938/188-49 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 49-54

Author(s):

Vladimir Ivanovich Hajduk ◽

S.A. Kalitko ◽

Y.A. Nikiforova ◽

M.G. Paremuzova

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

State Regulation ◽

The Impact

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Gendered Impact of Corruption in Healthcare Service Delivery in Nigeria

The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology ◽

10.36108/njsa/3102/11(0140) ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yetunde A. Aluko

Keyword(s):

Service Delivery ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Public Health Care ◽

Women's Voices ◽

Medical Supplies ◽

Poor Women ◽

Level Information ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Threatening Situation ◽

The Impact

This paper supports the hypothesis that corruption and non-delivery of services in key sectors such as health have gender-specific poverty consequences. The study utilized qualitative micro-level information about the structures of corruption and its impact on poor women. Respondents expressed their perceptions on the occurrence of corrupt practices in public health care system and its wider impact on society. The findings revealed that the impact of corruption is felt disproportionately by women and the poor, who are most dependent on public services, and have no alternative even when facing corrupt practices in a life threatening situation, such as complicated birth delivery. Pregnant women denied access to doctors tended to deliver at home, which increased the likelihood of complications and maternal and child mortality. Medical supplies meant for public hospitals are sold to private clinics who charge more for drugs and supplies. There is need to strengthen sectoral oversight mechanisms and transparency as well as increase women’s voices in service delivery.

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Studying Abroad in Nepal: Assessing Impact

Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad ◽

10.36366/frontiers.v9i1.120 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 175-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Patricia Farrell ◽

Murari Suvedi

Keyword(s):

Personal Development ◽

Intellectual Development ◽

Longitudinal Research ◽

Adult Learning Theory ◽

Academic Program ◽

The Body ◽

Study Abroad Programs ◽

Studying Abroad ◽

Perceived Impact ◽

The Impact

The purpose of this study is to analyze the reported or perceived impact of studying in Nepal on student’s academic program, personal development and intellectual development. The study draws upon adult learning theory to analyze survey instrument data, interviews, and case studies to discern the impact of the program on college students and to contribute to the body of longitudinal research on U.S. study abroad programs.

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