scholarly journals Validity of the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and Prevalence of Food Insecurity in the Bahamas

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Karpyn ◽  
M. Gail Headley ◽  
Zeleka Knowles ◽  
Erecia Hepburn ◽  
Nicole Kennedy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Fit Statistics ◽  
Rasch Modelling ◽  
Landline Telephone

Abstract Background: Despite United Nations’ recommendations to monitor food insecurity using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), to date there are no published reports of its validity for the Bahamas, nor have prevalence rates of moderate or severe food insecurity been reported for the nation. At the same time, food security is a deep concern, with increasing incidence of natural disasters and health concerns related to diet-related disease and dietary quality plaguing the nation.Objectives: This paper aims to examine 1) the validity of the FIES for use in the Bahamas, 2) moderate and severe food insecurity prevalence, and 3) the socio-demographic factors which contribute to increased food insecurity.Methods: The FIES was administered via randomized and weighted landline telephone survey in Nassau, Bahamas to 1,000 participants in June and July of 2017. The Rasch modelling procedure was applied to examine tool validity, and outcomes used to report prevalence. A regression analysis informed the relationship between household variables and food security.Results: The FIES met acceptable ranges for fit statistics for all eight items and the overall Rasch reliability is 0.7. The prevalence of moderate and severe food insecurity is 21%, and the prevalence of severe food insecurity is 10%. Statistically significant variables that contribute to food insecurity include education, age, gender, and presence of diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease.Conclusions: This study, which is among the first to comprehensively measure food security in The Bahamas, provides a baseline for further research and evaluation of practices aimed at mitigating food insecurity in SIDS. Further, this study provides a baseline for future research which may seek to understand the impacts of Hurricane Dorian. Post-disaster food security data is needed to further understand the extent to which food security is impacted by natural disasters and identify which sectors and stakeholders are most vital in restructuring the agricultural sector and improving food availability following such catastrophic events.

scholarly journals Determining Food Insecurity: An Application of the Rasch Model with Household Survey Data in Uganda

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham Owino ◽  
Ronald Wesonga ◽  
Fabian Nabugoomu
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Percent Level ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Security Assessment ◽  
Fit Statistics ◽  
Rasch Modelling ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Households With Children

The inexplicable nature of food insecurity in parts of Uganda and worldwide necessitated an investigation into the nature, extent, and differentials of household food security. The main objective of this study was to examine the food security dynamics and model household food insecurity. The Rasch modelling approach was employed on a dataset from a sample of 1175 (Tororo = 577; Busia = 598) randomly selected households in the year 2010. All households provided responses to the food security questions and none was omitted from the analysis. At 5 percent level of significance the analysis indicated that Tororo district average food security assessment (0.137 ± 0.181) was lower than that for Busia district (0.768 ± 0.177). All the mean square fit statistics were in the range of 0.5 to 1.5, and none of them showed any signs of distortion, degradation, or less productivity for measurement. This confirmed that items used in this study were very productive for measurement of food security in the study area. The study recommends further analysis where item responses are ordered polytomous rather than the dichotomous item response functions used. Furthermore, consideration should be given to fit models that allow for different latent distributions for households with children and those without children and possibly other subgroups of respondents.

Hunger and Food Insecurity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Barrett ◽  
Erin C. Lentz
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Historical Overview ◽  
Large Measure ◽  
Extreme Poverty ◽  
The Relationship

This article examines hunger and food insecurity in relation to poverty. Evidence shows that food insecurity is overwhelmingly concentrated in developing countries, even as it also exists in wealthy countries. Today, food insecurity remains widespread in large measure because extreme poverty remains widespread, and vice versa. However, the relationship between poverty and food insecurity is complex and bidirectional. This article first reviews concepts and definitions related to food security before discussing the major approaches used to measure food insecurity. It then explains why measurement matters and why it remains so challenging and proceeds by providing a historical overview of hunger and food insecurity. It also analyzes the causes of hunger and food insecurity and interventions intended to reduce hunger and food insecurity. Finally, it suggests directions for future research.

scholarly journals Utilization of Post-Harvest Technologies for Improved Food Security: Case of Maize and Mangoes among Smallholder Farmers in Kerio Valley Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya

2021 ◽  
pp. 17-27
Author(s):  
L. Chepwambok ◽  
W. Adede ◽  
D. Bunyatta ◽  
V. K. Mugalavai ◽  
A. O. Onkware
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Processing Technologies ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Inappropriate Use

Limited availability of improved post-harvest technologies or inappropriate use of available technologies leads to spoilage of food resulting to post-harvest losses. The losses contribute to food insecurity in the sense that availability and accessibility of food will be limited. Adoption of post-harvest harvest technologies boosts the agricultural sector, and has been seen as a pathway out of poverty and food insecurity. The study assessed the utilization of post-harvest technologies among smallholder farmers in Kerio Valley Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya and their correlation to food security. The main objective of the study was to determine factors that influenced adoption of post-harvest technologies for both maize and mango among the farmers. A cross sectional survey was used to collect data using self-administered questionnaire and interview schedules on 217 respondents. There was a significant relationship between gender (r- .264, P<0.001), age(r=.350, P<.05), education level(r=.956, P<.001), income(r=656, P<.001) and extension services(r=.907, P<.001) and adoption of post-harvest technologies. Adoption and use of improved post-harvest and processing technologies need to be promoted to curb post-harvest losses thus improving food security. In addition, there is need for intense extension services on post-harvest technologies to enhance awareness and adoption.

scholarly journals Developing a Locally Appropriate Tool for Measuring Food Insecurity in Cambodia (OR02-07-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Gosdin ◽  
Diane Baik ◽  
Kate Reinsma ◽  
David Raminashvili ◽  
Hen Heang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Food Insecurity Access

Abstract Objectives The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) is widely used though it has limited cross-cultural applicability. Among families with underweight children in three Cambodian districts, the HFIAS-derived prevalence of moderate/severe food insecurity was about 45%, though interviewers reported that caregivers have difficulty understanding the questions.This study seeks to develop a locally appropriate tool for measuring household food security in Cambodia. Methods Caregivers of children ages 6–24 months were screened using the Household Hunger Scale. Following Coping Strategies Index (CSI) guidance, three focus group discussions (FGD) were held with 25 food insecure caregivers from 10 villages. Participants developed a list of coping strategies in response to the question, “What do you do when you do not have enough food, and do not have enough money to buy food?” By consensus, participants weighted coping strategies in order of increasing severity. Strategies were assessed for inclusion using CSI criteria. The research and local teams combined the three lists into a single tool maintaining much of the local vocabulary. Results FGD 1 identified 16 coping strategies: one was excluded because it could not be done readily, and two were combined. FGD 2 identified 16: one was excluded because it was not repeatable, and four were combined into two. FGD 3 identified 19: six were combined into three. Seven strategies were identified in all three FGDs and seven were identified in two FGDs. Four strategies were identified in only one FGD. The resulting index is comprised of 18 coping strategies. Three strategies were weighted least severe (1). Example: “Eat rice without fish or meat.” Seven were weighted somewhat severe (2). Example: “Make food last longer by eating smaller portions and keeping it for longer than intended.” Five were weighted as more severe (3). Example: “Sell or consume seed stock held for next season.” Three strategies were weighted as most severe (4). Example: “Borrow rice or money from a lender or employer with high interest.” Conclusions Context-specific coping strategies may be useful in measuring food security in Cambodia. Future research is needed to examine the validity of this tool in comparison to established food insecurity experiences scales. Funding Sources World Vision Hong Kong. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

scholarly journals Regional disaster risk management strategies for food security: Probing Southern African Development Community channels for influencing national policy

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Happy M. Tirivangasi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Risk Management Strategies

Natural disasters and food insecurity are directly interconnected. Climate change related hazards such as floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, droughts and other risks can weaken food security and severely impact agricultural activities. Consequently, this has an impact on market access, trade, food supply, reduced income, increased food prices, decreased farm income and employment. Natural disasters create poverty, which in turn increases the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition. It is clear that disasters put food security at risk. The poorest people in the community are affected by food insecurity and disasters; hence, there is a need to be prepared as well as be in a position to manage disasters. Without serious efforts to address them, the risks of disasters will become an increasingly serious obstacle to sustainable development and the achievement of sustainable development goals, particularly goal number 2 ‘end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’. In recent years, countries in southern Africa have experienced an increase in the frequency, magnitude and impact of climate change–related hazards such as droughts, veld fire, depleting water resources and flood events. This research aims to reveal Southern African Development Community disaster risk management strategies for food security to see how they an influence and shape policy at the national level in southern Africa. Sustainable Livelihood approach was adopted as the main theoretical framework for the study. The qualitative Analysis is based largely on data from databases such as national reports, regional reports and empirical findings on the disaster management–sustainable development nexus.

scholarly journals Agriculture and Food Security in Northern Ghana

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Alhassan Bawa
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Food Utilization ◽  
Annual Growth Rate ◽  
Subsistence Level ◽  
Agricultural Growth ◽  
Agriculture Sector

In the northern part of Ghana, about 97.9 percent of households are engaged in crop farming such as maize, rice, sorghum, soy beans, cowpea, cassava, yam, cotton and vegetables, with few households engaging in poultry, livestock and pig rearing. Agricultural production is therefore the main activity in the northern sector of Ghana and is practiced mainly on seasonal and subsistence level. The Gross Domestic Product of the country has recorded an annual growth rate of about 4 to 8 percent within the past decade. Agricultural growth has been the major driver of poverty reduction. The agriculture sector is the largest source of employment for the people of northern Ghana, and is dominated by smallholder farmers. The challenges in the agriculture sector include human resource and managerial skills, natural resource management, technology development and food insecurity. Food security is a phenomenon resulting from multiple causes which are food availability, food accessibility, food utilization and food stability. About 5% of Ghanaian populace are food insecure. Additionally, about 2 million Ghanaian people are vulnerable to become food insecure. Growth in the agricultural sector has been more rapid as compared to that of the non-agricultural sectors in recent years, expanding by an average annual rate of 5.5%, compared to 5.2% for the economy as a whole. Agricultural growth however, depends mainly on rainfall patterns and land expansion. The objective of this paper was to review literature on food security in Ghana, agricultural contribution to food security in northern Ghana and some policy measures put in place by successive governments to reduce food insecurity in northern Ghana.

Do food skills protect from food insecurity? A study among asylum seekers living in Norway

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Terragni ◽  
C Arnold ◽  
S Henjum
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Canadian Community Health Survey ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cooking Skills ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Food insecurity has a high prevalence among asylum seekers living in Western countries. Previous studies suggest that food skills can protect against food insecurity. This study investigates the impact of food skills on food security and dietary diversity among refugees living in Norwegian reception centers. Methods The study has a cross-sectional research design. Eight asylum reception centers where selected and 205 asylum seekers (131 men and 74 women) were recruited through convenience sampling among the largest asylum seeking groups. We measured food skills by adopting questions from the Canadian Community Health Survey 2013 Rapid Response on Food Skills. Food skills were divided into cooking skills (ability to prepare meals) and shopping skills (ability to plan meals and budgeting). Food security was measured with the 10-item version of the Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Scale. Dietary data was collected via a 24-hour recall, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) dietary diversity score was calculated to assess dietary quality. Data were analyzed with bivariate logistic analysis. Results Cooking skills and shopping skills contribute differently to food security and dietary diversity. Higher cooking skills were associated with higher dietary diversity but not with food security. Shopping skills were not associated with either food security or dietary diversity. Women had better cooking skills then men, but there were no gender differences in shopping skills. Married asylum seekers had better shopping skills than those who were not married. Conclusions Cooking skills have an impact on dietary diversity, initiatives promoting cooking skills should be encouraged. Further research is needed on what kind of purchasing skills can be useful for asylum seekers coping. Despite high food skills the level of food insecurity remained high. Initiatives addressing the multiple causes of food insecurity are needed. Key messages Food skills alone do not protect from food insecurity. Cooking skills are easier to transfer in a new food environment than shopping skills.

Urban food insecurity and its determinants: a baseline study of Bengaluru

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shriya Anand ◽  
Keerthana Jagadeesh ◽  
Charrlotte Adelina ◽  
Jyothi Koduganti
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Urban Food Security ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Housing Typology

There is an increasing need to study urban food security in the global South. This is because of the monetization of food in urban areas and compounding vulnerability from other deprivations such as lack of access to infrastructure. We assess these claims in this paper, based on a city-wide household survey in Bengaluru (Bangalore) carried out in 2016 that used experiential measures of food security like the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. We find that income and consumption do not have a clear relationship with food insecurity. However, socioeconomic dimensions like education level and wage type of the household head, and infrastructural dimensions like housing typology, and water connection are strongly related to food security. Through this work, we attempt to establish the baseline evidence on the current status of food security in Bengaluru, to lay the foundation for a future research agenda on urban food security in India.

scholarly journals Food Security and Diet Quality in Postpartum Women

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1007-1007
Author(s):  
Katelin Hudak ◽  
Sarah Gonzalez-Nahm ◽  
Tiange Liu ◽  
Sara Benjamin-Neelon
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Postpartum Women ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

Abstract Objectives Food insecurity has been associated with poor diet-related health in women, but few prior studies focused on the postpartum period—a particularly important time for the health of women and children. We examined associations between food security and maternal diet quality in a racially diverse cohort of postpartum women. We further assessed whether participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) modified this potential relation. Methods We examined 363 women in central North Carolina from the Nurture study (2013–2017). We computed maternal food security status using the 10-item USDA food security survey module at 3 months postpartum. We calculated Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI) scores (range of 0 to 100) and component scores from food frequency questionnaires completed at 6 months postpartum. We conducted multiple linear regression examining associations between food security status (high, marginal, low, and very low) and AHEI, adjusting for age, race, education, marital status, number of children, breastfeeding, and total calories. We assessed WIC and SNAP as potential effect modifiers. Results Among women, 64.4% were Black and had a mean (standard deviation, SD) age of 28.2 (5.9) years. Nearly half (45.7%) had a high school diploma or less. Of women, 21.3% had low or very low food security. Mean (SD) AHEI score was 41.5 (11.3). We found no evidence of an interaction between food security and WIC or SNAP so we adjusted for both. In adjusted models, food security status at 3 months postpartum was not associated with AHEI (data not shown) at 6 months postpartum. However, low (ß: −0.64; 95% CI: −1.15, −0.13; P = 0.01) and very low (ß: −0.57; 95% CI: −1.02, −0.13; P = 0.01) food security were associated with a less healthy score for trans fat intake. Conclusions Food security status was not associated with overall diet quality in postpartum women. However, food insecure women showed higher consumption of trans fats. Future research should evaluate interventions to alleviate food insecurity in postpartum women, and assess whether these interventions lead to improved diet quality. Funding Sources National Institutes of Health.

scholarly journals Child-Report of Food Insecurity Is Associated with Diet Quality in Children

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Landry ◽  
Alexandra E. van den Berg ◽  
Fiona M. Asigbee ◽  
Sarvenaz Vandyousefi ◽  
Reem Ghaddar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Security Assessment ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Low Income Children

Food insecurity (FI) is adversely associated with physical and mental wellbeing in children. The mechanism underlying this association is assumed to be dietary intake; however, evidence has been mixed. This study examined the relationship between self-reported FI and dietary quality among low-income children. Cross-sectional data were used from TX Sprouts, a school-based cooking, gardening, and nutrition intervention. A sample of 598 children completed two 24-h dietary recalls and a questionnaire including an adapted version of the 5-item Child Food Security Assessment (CFSA). Food security was categorized as food secure or FI based on summed CFSA scores. Dietary quality was assessed using the Health Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015). Mixed effects linear regression models examined associations between FI and dietary quality. Children were 64% Hispanic, 55% female, and were 9.2 years old on average. Adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, BMI percentile, and energy intake, FI was associated with lower HEI-2015 total scores (β = −3.17; 95% CI = −5.28, −1.06; p = 0.003). Compared to food secure children, FI children had lower greens and beans (2.3 vs. 1.9, p = 0.016), seafood and plant protein (2.0 vs. 1.6, p = 0.006), and added sugar (7.4 vs. 8.0, p = 0.002) component scores. Interventions targeting low-income and FI children should investigate ways to improve dietary quality.

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