scholarly journals Food Decisions of Low-Income Families in the Era of COVID-19: A Qualitative Exploration

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 250-250
Author(s):  
Eleni Spyreli ◽  
Michelle McKinley ◽  
Jayne Woodside ◽  
Colette Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Economically Disadvantaged ◽  
Food Shopping ◽  
Food Planning ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Disadvantaged Families

Abstract Objectives The first lockdown enforced in the United Kingdom to limit the spread of COVID-19 had serious financial consequences for some lower-income households, which were already at risk of suboptimal food choices. Particularly in Northern Ireland, where 10% of the population live in food insecure households, the pandemic has potentially further exacerbated the nutritional challenges experienced by low-income families. This paper aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on food-related decisions as experienced by economically disadvantaged families in Northern Ireland, UK. Methods A qualitative study collected data through online individual interviews. Participation was open to parents of children 2–17 years old who self-identified as living on a tight budget in urban and rural areas of Northern Ireland. A sampling matrix enabled equal representation of single- and two-parent households, as well as younger (<12 y) and older children (>12 y). Photovoice and participatory mapping techniques were employed to capture participant data. A thematic approach was utilised for data analysis. Results A total of 12 interviews were conducted. Five distinct themes were found, reflecting families’ food-related decisions that were affected by the COVID-19 lockdown: 1) food planning; 2) food purchasing; 3) meal preparation; 4) eating and feeding behaviours and 5) eating food prepared outside the house. Changes included an increase in home food preparation, but also in unhealthy snacking. Fear of being exposed to carriers of the virus led to infrequent food shopping and greater reliance on supermarket home deliveries. Long waiting times in-between food shops encouraged food planning but were also a barrier to providing daily fresh foods including fruit and vegetables to their families. Financial constraints were exacerbated during lockdown and led to a search for new ways to budget when food shopping. Food donations from the community and the government were important to maintain food security, particularly in single-parent families. Conclusions This study highlights that the COVID-19 lockdown influenced a broad range of dietary decisions of economically disadvantaged families and offers an insight into the nutritional challenges they experienced. Funding Sources The work was completed with financial support from internal funds of Queens University Belfast.

scholarly journals A qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on food decisions of economically disadvantaged families in Northern Ireland

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Spyreli ◽  
Michelle C. McKinley ◽  
Jayne V. Woodside ◽  
Colette Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Meal Preparation ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Food Decisions ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Meal Planning ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The first UK-wide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 had a serious financial impact on low-income households, a population already in higher risk of food insecurity and poor dietary choices. Qualitative data on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on food decisions of UK families are scarce. This study aimed to explore how the measures to control the spread of COVID-19 influenced the food-related decisions of socioeconomically deprived families in Northern Ireland. Methods A qualitative study captured data from online individual interviews. Participation was open for parents of children 2–17 years old living on a tight budget in urban and rural areas of Northern Ireland. A sampling matrix enabled equal representation of single- and two-parent households, as well as parents of younger children (<12y) and adolescents (≥12y). Data were collected by using the methods of Photovoice and mapping exercise. Data were analysed through a thematic approach. Results Twelve online interviews were conducted and five distinct themes were identified reflecting families’ food-related decisions that were affected by the COVID-19 lockdown: 1) food planning; 2) food purchasing; 3) meal preparation; 4) eating and feeding behaviours and 5) eating food prepared outside the house. Conclusions The restrictions put in place to inhibit the spread of COVID-19 influenced all aspects of dietary decisions of low-income families. Changes observed during this period included frequent consumption of homemade meals, but also increased unhealthy snacking. Infrequent food shopping encouraged good meal planning, but was also a barrier to securing adequate fresh food. Food-related support including school meal assistance contributed to families’ food security, particularly those of single parents.

scholarly journals Dampak Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) terhadap Kesejahteraan Keluarga di Desa Padang Seurahet Kecamatan Johan Pahlawan Kabupaten Aceh Barat

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Lia Muliana ◽  
Mursyidin Mursyidin ◽  
Muharriyanti Siregar
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Family Welfare ◽  
Transfer Program ◽  
Family Needs ◽  
Social Significance ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Family ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

The Family Hope Program (PKH) is a conditional cash transfer program for low-income families. The requirement is to be actively involved in education and health. The Family Hope Program in Indonesia was implemented in 2007 to alleviate poverty and prosper low-income families. The research and writing of this journal aim to determine the impact of PKH on family welfare and see if there is a reduction in poverty after the government realizes the Family Hope Program. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The study results indicate that the impact of PKH on beneficiary families, including the cash provided, can meet consumption or family needs and help the economy of PKH recipient families. The implementation of the program can reduce poverty in Aceh. The percentage of the poverty rate fell to 0.02%. The limitation of the research is the impact of PKH on family welfare and wants to examine whether there is a decrease in the percentage of poverty in Aceh or Aceh Barat. The practical implication of this research is to provide information to the government that PKH can improve the welfare of low-income families. The social significance is to give the government and the general public that the implementation of social assistance programs, one of which is the Family Hope Program, can reduce poverty rates in Aceh or West Aceh. The originality of the research is supported by previous research related to the author’s research study.

scholarly journals Climate shocks and human capital: The impact of the natural disasters of 2010 in Colombia on student achievement

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (79) ◽  
pp. 303-328
Author(s):  
Mauricio Giovanni Valencia Amaya
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Climate Shocks ◽  
The Impact

This paper investigates the impact of the unprecedented climate shocks of the 2010 in Colombia on the results of the Saber 11 standardized test for the 2010- 2012 period. By using two unique datasets, this paper contributes to the literature by providing a better estimate of the human capital costs of climate shocks. The findings indicate that the climate shocks occurred on 2010 decreased Saber 11 test scores. The impact was stronger for female students, students from rural areas and students from low-income families. A possible channel of transmission is identified: the destruction of schools.

scholarly journals The Impact of Higher Education Loan System among Students from Low-Income Background in Tanzania

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (28) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Watende Pius Nyoni
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Means Testing ◽  
Operational Mechanism ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Needy

In spite of the initiatives which have been taken by the government of Tanzania towards access to higher education for qualified students who came from low - income backgrounds, the studies and real situation reveal the reality of how this group of people has been denied to parity and fair for accessing higher education. Thus, Tanzania government has established Higher Education Students Loans Board with the Act No.9 of 2004 aiming at giving assistance to the students who got admission in universities, but came from low-income families with no financial strength to support their schooling. However, since its inception higher education loans board had failed to identify students from low-income background resulting in some students dropping out or postpone their studies as they look for other sources of funds. This article is qualitative in nature with the use of document analysis technique. The author uses relevant literature, officially published statistical data and various theoretical justifications for examining the impact of HE loan towards students from low-income background. The results of this study identified some challenges leading to a misallocation of fund to the needy students, application of Means Testing being one of them. Meanwhile, the author concludes with careful planning and effective use of means testing with a sustainable operational mechanism which will address the issue of parity and justice for the needy students in accessing higher education in Tanzania.

scholarly journals Research on the Impact of Land Circulation on the Income Gap of Rural Households: Evidence from CHIP

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 781
Author(s):  
Congjia Huo ◽  
Lingming Chen
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Labor Mobility ◽  
Rural Households ◽  
Income Gap ◽  
Land Circulation ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

With the continued development of the economy, the income gap among Chinese rural households continues to widen. The land system plays a decisive role in developing “agriculture, rural areas and farmers” and land circulation is a factor in the increase in income inequality among farm households. Based on the 2013 China Household Income Project (CHIP), this article used the re-centered influence function (RIF) regression method to empirically test the impact of rural land circulation on the income gap of rural households in China in three regions: the central, eastern and western regions. The quantile regression tested the impact mechanism of income inequality of rural households from the perspective of labor mobility and land circulation. The empirical results showed that land circulation increases the income inequality of rural households. The theoretical mechanism test proved that the dynamic relationship between land circulation and labor mobility increases rural household income. However, this increase has a greater effect on rural households with a high income and a small effect on rural households with a low income, resulting in a further widening of the income gap. Therefore, while increasing the income of rural households through land circulation, the government should also consider income equity. Finally, this article puts forward the policies and opinions on land reform and provides a brief discussion on the future direction of development.

scholarly journals Family Conditions and the Accessibility of Online Education: The Digital Divide and Mediating Factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8590
Author(s):  
Jiafeng Gu
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Broadband Internet ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

This study is an exploration of the digital divide between urban and rural areas, and it was conducted to assess the impact of the minimum living guarantee system on online education in China. The results of the research showed that 83.38% of students in low-income families have been able to participate in online education at home during the pandemic, while 16.62% of students in low-income families have been unable to do so. The absence of computers, smartphones, and broadband Internet access in low-income households reduces the likelihood of children being able to participate in online education at home. In terms of accessing online education at home, students from urban areas have obvious advantages over those from rural ones, and students from minimum living guarantee families have obvious advantages over those from marginal minimum living guarantee ones. This study also showed that the presence of online education-related amenities, including computers, smartphones, and Internet access, mediates the relationship between the subsistence allowance system, Hukou, and accessibility of online education. To address this issue, this paper includes suggestions for bridging the digital divide in online education.

scholarly journals The Challenge of Inequality in University Education: Is the District Quota Scheme Addressing Socio-Economic Disparities in Access to University Education in Uganda?

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Godfrey Bagonza ◽  
Yuda Taddeo Kaahwa ◽  
Nicholas Itaaga
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
University Education ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
The Social ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Government

Access to university education is one of the fundamental educational questions in contemporary educational debates. This is because university education is seen as having an array of benefits to individuals, their households, and their nations. However, the challenge of inequality in terms of gender, income, location, and socio-economic status has constrained some individuals and households to access quality university education. In 2005 the government of Uganda introduced the District Quota Scheme to address the social inequalities in accessing university education. This study examined how the District Quota Scheme is addressing the rural-urban divide in access to university; how the District Quota Scheme has increased access to university education for children with parents who have low levels of education; and whether the District Quota Scheme is improving access to university education for children from low-income families. Following the social constructivist research paradigm and integrating both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the study found a change in access to university education by students from rural areas, students whose parents have lower levels of education, and those from low-income families as a result of introducing the District Quota Scheme. The study recommends that the government of Uganda and other stakeholders in the higher education sector should address the structural challenges to ensure that mainly the socially disadvantaged students take the biggest advantage of this scheme. 

scholarly journals The Impact of the Demographic Policy on the Economic Security of Russia

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-39
Author(s):  
V. N. Mironova
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
The State ◽  
Demographic Situation ◽  
Demographic Processes ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Demographic Policy

The subject of the research is demographic processes reflected in the population dynamics and fertility and mortality indices as well as the state of migration that might compensate for the natural population decline. The purposes of the research were to reveal the main threats to the economic security of the country due to ill-timed resolution of demographic problems and propose measures to overcome the negative trends. The research was based on studying the demographic processes in Russia and a number of other countries to make sure the country is in the mainstream of the changes taking place in developed economies. However, there are certain deviations in a number of indices demonstrating a demographic crisis that has not been overcome and tends to aggravate. The research makes it clear that the demographic situation in Russia has been gradually deteriorating alternating with short periods of improvement of demographic indicators. It has been established that the state demographic policy is the most important mechanism to combat the demographic crisis, providing other relevant conditions are observed. In furtherance of the above-mentioned, the Concept of the Demographic Policy developed under the Presidential Decree of May 2018 was examined. It is noted that based on political decisions, tools are being developed to mitigate the emerging threats to the national economic security. It is concluded that the importance of numerous measures taken periodically by the government including substantial financial injections to support fertility and overcome high mortality rates cannot be overestimated. Along with that, current demographic problems cannot be solved only by financial support of low-income families, hence a well-thoughtout system approach is required. Fragmentary measures to improve the demographic situation in the country can yield a temporary positive effect but are unable to change the situation totally.

scholarly journals Inequalities in the Impact of the Carbon Tax in Japan

2020 ◽  
pp. 217-234
Author(s):  
Nozomu Inoue ◽  
Shigeru Matsumoto ◽  
Minoru Morita
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Carbon Tax ◽  
High Income ◽  
Carbon Pricing ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low Income Households

Abstract Although Japan’s current carbon tax rate is much lower than the rates applied in European countries, the Japanese government may increase the tax rate in the near future, in order to strengthen measures to combat global warming. Since a country’s carbon-pricing policy does not distort its economy, it is considered to be an efficient policy measure. However, the burden of carbon pricing varies across regions and across households. Since low-income households generally allocate a larger proportion of their disposable income to energy costs than high-income households, the burden of carbon taxes on low-income households tends to be higher than for high-income households. In addition, households in cold regions spend more money for space heating, and those in rural areas spend more money for gasoline. Unless the government objectively analyzes the impact of carbon pricing and proposes convincing countermeasures to deal with these unequal impacts, the government is unlikely to obtain public support for a carbon tax increase. In this study, we analyze microlevel data from the Japanese National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure (NSFE) collected from 1989 to 2014, and examine how past energy price changes affected the welfare of different types of households. We then propose countermeasures to address the problems arising from the regressive nature of taxing energy use.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document