Rural Food Deserts: Food Access Status among Low-Income Households in Rural Area, Kedah, Malaysia

Food security happens when all people have physical and economic access to enough safe and nutritious food that satisfies their nutritional needs and desires for an active and balanced life at all times (FAO 2008). Food access is one of the key aspects of food security that must be met in order to achieve food security status. Food access, described as a sufficient supply of food at the national or international level, does not guarantee food security at the household level. Concerns regarding inadequate food access have prompted policymakers to place a greater emphasis on wages, expenditures, economies, and prices in order to achieve food security goals (FAO 2008). Keywords: Food Access, Low-Income Households, Food Deserts

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Higher Food Prices May Threaten Food Security Status among American Low-Income Households with Children

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.3945/jn.112.170506 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 143 (10) ◽

pp. 1659-1665 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Qi Zhang ◽

Sonya Jones ◽

Christopher J. Ruhm ◽

Margaret Andrews

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Low Income ◽

Food Prices ◽

Food Security Status ◽

Households With Children ◽

Low Income Households

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Trends in cyclical food expenditures among low-income households receiving monthly nutrition assistance: results from a prospective study

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898002000405x ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Sruthi Valluri ◽

Susan M Mason ◽

Hikaru H Peterson ◽

Simone A French ◽

Lisa J Harnack

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Low Income ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Household Composition ◽

Household Characteristics ◽

Food Expenditures ◽

Food Security Status ◽

Food Retailer ◽

Nutrition Assistance ◽

Low Income Households

Abstract Objective: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are rapidly depleted after distribution. This phenomenon, known as the benefit cycle, is associated with poor nutrition and health outcomes. However, to date, no study has evaluated trends in food expenditures before and after households receive benefits using prospective data, and whether these trends vary by household characteristics. Design: Generalised estimating equations were used to model weekly household food expenditures during baseline (pre-benefit) and intervention months by vendor (restaurants and food retailers). Food retailer expenditures were further evaluated by food category (fruits and vegetables and foods high in added sugar). All expenditures were evaluated by household composition, demographics and economic means. Setting: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, metropolitan area. Participants: Low-income households (n 249) enrolled May 2013–August 2015. Results: Weekly food retailer expenditures did not vary during baseline (pre-benefit), but demonstrated a cyclical pattern after households received benefits across all household characteristics and for both food categories, particularly for fruits and vegetables. Households with greater economic resources spent more throughout the month compared with those with fewer resources. Households with lower food security status experienced more severe fluctuations in spending compared with more food secure households. Conclusions: Cyclical food purchasing was observed broadly across different household characteristics and food categories, with notable differences by household economic means and food security status. Proposed SNAP policy changes designed to smooth food expenditures across the benefit month, such as increased frequency of benefit distribution, should include a focus on households with fewest resources.

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Determine the Food Access among Low-Income Households in Rural Area, Kedah, Malaysia

GATR Journal of Business and Economics Review ◽

10.35609/jber.2021.6.3(5) ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 212-222

Author(s):

Ahmad Zubir Ibrahim

Keyword(s):

Rural Area ◽

Low Income ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Food Access ◽

Food Deserts ◽

Income Group ◽

Grocery Stores ◽

Geographical Factors ◽

Low Income Households

Objective - This study aims to determine the low-income group in rural areas to food access. This study also determines the main source of choice for this group to get food. Methodology - This study was conducted in Baling, Sik, and Padang Terap districts in Kedah. There is 200 respondent involved in this study. Findings - The results showed that 97.87% of low-income households in Baling, 82.36% in Sik, and 71.43% in Padang Terap had low food access status and were prone to food deserts areas. Low -income households in the area prefer grocery stores for food access over supermarkets. A large number of low-income households access food at the supermarket once a month causing geographical factors. Novelty - In conclusion, policymakers need to determine the measurement and assessment of food deserts in rural areas in Malaysia. Kedai Rakyat 1 Malaysia (KR1M) and the KedaiRuncit Transformation Program (TUKAR) can be re-implemented with the improvement of their implementation structure to improve food access in rural areas. Type of Paper - Empirical. Keywords: Food Access; Low-Income Households; Food Deserts; Rural Area; Kedah

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Qualitative perspectives of the North Carolina healthy food small retailer program among customers in participating stores located in food deserts

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11509-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lindsey Haynes-Maslow ◽

Stephanie B. Jilcott Pitts ◽

Kathryn A. Boys ◽

Jared T. McGuirt ◽

Sheila Fleischhacker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Low Income ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Food Access ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Food Deserts ◽

State Legislature ◽

Healthy Food ◽

The State ◽

The North

Abstract Background The North Carolina Healthy Food Small Retailer Program (NC HFSRP) was established through a policy passed by the state legislature to provide funding for small food retailers located in food deserts with the goal of increasing access to and sales of healthy foods and beverages among local residents. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine perceptions of the NC HFSRP among store customers. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 29 customers from five NC HFSRP stores in food deserts across eastern NC. Interview questions were related to shoppers’ food and beverage purchases at NC HFSRP stores, whether they had noticed any in-store efforts to promote healthier foods and beverages, their suggestions for promoting healthier foods and beverages, their familiarity with and support of the NC HFSRP, and how their shopping and consumption habits had changed since implementation of the NC HFSRP. A codebook was developed based on deductive (from the interview guide questions) and inductive (emerged from the data) codes and operational definitions. Verbatim transcripts were double-coded and a thematic analysis was conducted based on code frequency, and depth of participant responses for each code. Results Although very few participants were aware of the NC HFSRP legislation, they recognized changes within the store. Customers noted that the provision of healthier foods and beverages in the store had encouraged them to make healthier purchase and consumption choices. When a description of the NC HFSRP was provided to them, all participants were supportive of the state-funded program. Participants discussed program benefits including improving food access in low-income and/or rural areas and making healthy choices easier for youth and for those most at risk of diet-related chronic diseases. Conclusions Findings can inform future healthy corner store initiatives in terms of framing a rationale for funding or policies by focusing on increased food access among vulnerable populations.

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Food Security and COVID-19: A Systematic Review of the First-Year Experience

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13095294 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 5294

Author(s):

Boglárka Anna Éliás ◽

Attila Jámbor

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Low Income ◽

Poverty Reduction ◽

First Year ◽

Structural Problem ◽

Global Food Security ◽

Global Food ◽

Low Income Households

For decades, global food security has not been able to address the structural problem of economic access to food, resulting in a recent increase in the number of undernourished people from 2014. In addition, the FAO estimates that the number of undernourished people drastically increased by 82–132 million people in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To alleviate this dramatic growth in food insecurity, it is necessary to understand the nature of the increase in the number of malnourished during the pandemic. In order to address this, we gathered and synthesized food-security-related empirical results from the first year of the pandemic in a systematic review. The vast majority (78%) of the 51 included articles reported household food insecurity has increased (access, utilization) and/or disruption to food production (availability) was a result of households having persistently low income and not having an adequate amount of savings. These households could not afford the same quality and/or quantity of food, and a demand shortfall immediately appeared on the producer side. Producers thus had to deal not only with the direct consequences of government measures (disruption in labor flow, lack of demand of the catering sector, etc.) but also with a decline in consumption from low-income households. We conclude that the factor that most negatively affects food security during the COVID-19 pandemic is the same as the deepest structural problem of global food security: low income. Therefore, we argue that there is no need for new global food security objectives, but there is a need for an even stronger emphasis on poverty reduction and raising the wages of low-income households. This structural adjustment is the most fundamental step to recover from the COVID-19 food crises, and to avoid possible future food security crises.

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The Role of Women in Improving Access to Food at the Household Level in Mandeni Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

African Journal of Gender, Society and Development (formerly Journal of Gender, Information and Development in Africa) ◽

10.31920/2634-3622/2021/v10n2a8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 135-155

Author(s):

Nondumiso Thabisile Mpanza ◽

Mfaniseni Wiseman Mbatha

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Low Income ◽

Home Gardens ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Exploratory Research ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Household Level ◽

Role Of Women ◽

Access To Food

This paper censoriously assesses the role of women in improving access to food at the household level. The role of women is essential in the production of food as caretakers of household food security. However, their role is not well recognised, more especially in policymaking and resource allocation. This study was conducted through a qualitative approach with an exploratory research design. The participants were sampled with convenience sampling and interviewed with semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was employed as a tool for data analysis. The study adopted feminisation of poverty as a primary theory of this paper. Certain aspects of the study reveal that women have been struggling to access food from the diversity of retail vents that are obtainable in town because of low income and limitations of transport service. This is a constraint to women who depend on the off-farm sources of income because their household’s livelihood depends on purchasing food from retail vents. Those who rely on home gardens were experiencing low productivity and the unsustainability of their gardens. This has been caused by water scarcity and climate change. Therefore, women must be provided with training that seeks to develop their skills on how to make effective use of home gardens so that food security can be ensured.

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Faktor-Faktor yang berhubungan dengan Kejadian Stunting pada Balita Usia 24-59 Bulan dari Keluarga Petani di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Gunung Labu Kabupaten Kerinci

Jurnal Akademika Baiturrahim Jambi ◽

10.36565/jab.v9i2.274 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 293

Author(s):

Asparian Asparian ◽

Enda Setiana ◽

Evy Wisudariani

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Dominant Factor ◽

Regression Result ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Household Level ◽

Chi Square Test ◽

Nutritional Needs ◽

Farming Families ◽

Food Needs

Background : Stunting is a state of height index according to age under -2 SD according to WHO standards. Nutrition problems in farmers can occur due to poverty which is the root of nutrition problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with the incidence of stunting in children aged 24-59 months from farming families in the Gunung Labu Primary Health Care in Kerinci Regency. Method :The design of this study was cross sectional. The total population in this study was 1,422 toddlers, while the sample in this study was 98 toddlers from farming families. Analysis used the Chi-Square test and Multiple Logistic Regression. Result :This study found the prevalence of stunting in infants 32.34%. Factors related to the incidence of stunting in infants were household level food security and mother's education level. The most dominant factor related to the incidence of stunting in infants was household-level food security (OR = 4,722; 95% CI = 1,599-13,941). Households ware encouraged to use home yards as a place to meet food needs and provide a variety of foods and balanced nutrition for infants so that nutritional needs can be met.

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Soup kitchen users' social representations of healthy eating associated with their household food security status

Revista de Nutrição ◽

10.1590/1678-98652016000200007 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 229-240

Author(s):

Isabel Cristina BENTO ◽

Fernanda Martins SOBRINHO ◽

Mery Natali Silva ABREU ◽

Maria Flávia GAZZINELLI ◽

Simone Cardoso Lisboa PEREIRA

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Low Income ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Social Representation ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Household Food ◽

Food Security Status ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Belo Horizonte

Objective: To verify whether what users of soup kitchens in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, think about a healthy diet and the challenges they face to eat healthy are associated with their household food security status. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,656 users of soup kitchens in Belo Horizonte. Socioeconomic and household food security data, and healthy-eating discourses were collected by a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were submitted to descriptive analyses for constructing frequency distribution tables, and to univariate analysis. Discourse analysis was based on the social representation theory. Results: To cut, reduce, avoid, not eat, eat less, and decrease carbohydrates, salt, meats, various beverages, and other foods are the most frequent changes (71.4%) that food-secure users have made or intend to make. Food-insecure users intended to eat more fruits, non-starchy vegetables, and other foods (34.4%). The main obstacles food-secure and food-insecure users face to adopt a healthier diet are lack of time (82.9%) and low income (53.5%), respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: What users of soup kitchens in Belo Horizonte think about food and the obstacles they face to adopt a healthier diet are related to their household food security status. The results provide valuable data for effective proposals of food and nutrition education, which should act on the producers of subjectivity in this group and consider this group's food and nutrition security status.

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Perceptions of the Food Environment and Access among Predominantly Black Low-Income Residents of Rural Louisiana Communities

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17155340 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (15) ◽

pp. 5340

Author(s):

Denise Holston ◽

Jessica Stroope ◽

Matthew Greene ◽

Bailey Houghtaling

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Focus Group ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Low Income ◽

Food Environment ◽

Food Access ◽

The United States ◽

Grocery Store ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Nutrition Assistance

Food insecurity in rural settings is complex and not fully understood, especially from the perspective of low-income and Black residents. The goal of this study was to use qualitative methods to better understand experiences with food access and perceptions of the food environment among low-income, predominately Black rural Louisiana residents in the United States. Data were collected from focus group discussions (FGD) and focus group intake forms. Study participants were all rural residents eligible to receive at least one nutrition assistance program. FGD questions focused on perceptions of the food environment, with an emphasis on food access. Participants (n = 44) were predominately Black and female. Over half (n = 25) reported running out of food before the end of the month. Major themes included: store choice, outshopping, methods of acquiring foods other than the grocery store, and food insecurity. Concerns around price, quality, and transportation emerged as factors negatively impacting food security. Understanding residents’ perceptions and experiences is necessary to inform contextually appropriate and feasible policy and practice interventions that address the physical environment and social conditions that shape the broader physical food environment in order to achieve equitable food access and food security.

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