scholarly journals Household food insecurity and coping strategies in Southern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mesfin Melese ◽  
Minyahel Tilahun ◽  
Mebratu Alemu

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.

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Misgana Asesefa Kisi ◽  
Dessalegn Tamiru ◽  
Melese Sinaga Teshome ◽  
Meseret Tamiru ◽  
Garumma Tolu Feyissa

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (17) ◽  
pp. 3197-3209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M Rukundo ◽  
Arne Oshaug ◽  
Bård A Andreassen ◽  
Joyce Kikafunda ◽  
Byaruhanga Rukooko ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the nutritional situation of the victims of the 2010 landslide disaster in Uganda, food varieties consumed and coping strategies were assessed.DesignCross-sectional. Food variety scores (FVS) were obtained as the total of food items eaten over the last week while an index was based on severity weighting of household food insecurity coping strategies. We included 545 affected and 533 control households.SettingVictims in the affected Bududa district in Eastern Uganda and those victims resettled in the Kiryandongo district, Western Uganda.ResultsAdjusted for covariates, in Bududa significantly higher mean FVS were observed among: affected than controls; farmers than others; and relief food recipients. Control households scored higher means (se) on severity of coping: 28·6 (1·3) v. 19·2 (1·2; P<0·01). In Kiryandongo, significantly higher FVS were observed among: control households; household heads educated above primary school; those with assets that complement food source; and recipients of relief food. Severity of coping was significantly higher among affected households and non-recipients of relief food. Affected households had a higher likelihood to skip a day without eating a household meal in Bududa (OR=2·31; 95 % CI 1·62, 3·29; P<0·01) and Kiryandongo (OR=1·77; 95 % CI 1·23, 2·57; P<0·01).ConclusionsWhereas FVS and severity of coping showed opposite trends in the two districts, resettlement into Kiryandongo led to severe coping experiences. Administrative measures that provide a combination of relief food, social protection and resettlement integration may offset undesirable coping strategies affecting diet.


Food Security ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 647-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Musemwa ◽  
V. Muchenje ◽  
A. Mushunje ◽  
F. Aghdasi ◽  
L. Zhou

Author(s):  
Akinbule Oluwafunke Opeyemi ◽  
Okekhian Kindness Lovely ◽  
Omidiran Adebukola Tolulope

Background: High prevalence of food insecurity experienced by many households in developing countries predisposes them to adopting coping strategies (CSs), some of which may put them at risk of malnutrition. This study assessed the household food insecurity status and CSs in Abeokuta. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted. A total of 250 households were randomly selected in all communities in Odeda Local Government Area, Abeokuta. Interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data. Household food insecurity (HFI) status and coping strategy were assessed using HFI experience scale and CS index questionnaires. The CSs were categorised as food, financial as well as both food and financial compromization. Data were reported by frequencies and percentages. Chi-square was run to determine the association among variables at P <0.05. Results: The majority (84.4%) of respondents were food insecure, of whom 26.5%, 35.5%, and 22.4% were food insecure mildly, moderately, and severely, respectively.  Moreover, 99.6% took loan, sold sheep and goat, ate once a day, ate rice without stew, sold hen and turkey, took food loan, and reduced food quality and quantity as CS. A significant association exists between CS categories and food insecurity status (P < 0.001). In addition, access to land (P = 0.00), farm (P = 0.04), paved-road (P = 0.01), information (P = 0.04), and market (P = 0.01) were significantly associated with HFI status. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity was high and most households adopted CS that reduced both food quality and quantity and could adversely affect their nutritional status and predisposed them to multiple forms of malnutrition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 228-228
Author(s):  
Shivani Kachwaha ◽  
Phuong Nguyen ◽  
Anjali Pant ◽  
Lan Mai Tran ◽  
Sebanti Ghosh ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has profound negative impacts on people's lives, but little is known on the effect of COVID-19 on household food insecurity (HFI) in poor setting resources. This study aimed to assess the changes in HFI during the pandemic and examine the interlinkages between HFI with child feeding practices and coping strategies in Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods We conducted a longitudinal quantitative survey with 569 mothers with children &lt;2y in December 2019 (in-person) and August 2020 (by phone). We measured HFI by using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and examined the changes in HFI during the pandemic using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank tests. We then assessed child feeding practices and coping strategies by HFI status using multivariable regression models. Results HFI increased sharply from 21% to 80% before and during COVID-19, with 62% households changing the status from food security to insecurity and 17% remaining food insecure. Children belonging to newly and consistently food-insecure households were less likely to consume a diversified diet (adjusted odds ratio, AOR: 0.56, P = 0.03 and AOR: 0.45, P = 0.04, respectively) compared to those in food-secure households. Households with food insecurity were more likely to engage in coping strategies for obtaining foods including reducing other essential non-food expenditures (AOR: 1.7–2.2), borrowing money to buy food (AOR: 3.6–4.3), selling jewelry (AOR: 3.0–5.0), and spending savings or selling other assets (AOR∼2.0), all P &lt; 0.05. Conclusions COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on HFI, which in turn had implications for child feeding practices and coping strategies. Our findings highlighted the need for further investment in targeted social protection strategies and safety nets as part of multisectoral solutions to improve HFI during and post-COVID-19. Funding Sources Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through POSHAN, led by International Food Policy Research Institute; and Alive & Thrive, led by FHI Solutions.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 945
Author(s):  
Norhasmah Sulaiman ◽  
Heather Yeatman ◽  
Joanna Russell ◽  
Leh Shii Law

Living free from hunger is a basic human right. However, some communities still experience household food insecurity. This systematic literature review explored different aspects of household food insecurity in Malaysia including vulnerable groups, prevalence, risk factors, coping strategies, and the consequences of food insecurity. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Thirty-three relevant articles were selected from scientific databases such as CINAHL, Pubmed and Google Scholar, scrutiny of reference lists, and personal communication with experts in the field. The prevalence of household food insecurity in Malaysia was unexpectedly reported as high, with affected groups including Orang Asli, low-income household/welfare-recipient households, university students, and the elderly. Demographic risk factors and socioeconomic characteristics included larger household, living in poverty, and low education. Coping strategies were practices to increase the accessibility of food in their households. Consequences of household food insecurity included psychological, dietary (macro- and micronutrient intakes), nutritional status, and health impacts. In conclusion, this review confirmed that household food insecurity in Malaysia continues to exist. Nevertheless, extensive and active investigations are encouraged to obtain a more holistic and comprehensive picture pertaining to household food security in Malaysia.


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