scholarly journals The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and an Index-Member Dietary Diversity Score Contribute Valid and Complementary Information on Household Food Insecurity in an Urban West-African Setting

2010 ◽  
Vol 140 (12) ◽  
pp. 2233-2240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elodie Becquey ◽  
Yves Martin-Prevel ◽  
Pierre Traissac ◽  
Bernard Dembélé ◽  
Alain Bambara ◽  
...  
2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 723-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal P Singh ◽  
Sankara Varun Bhoopathy ◽  
Heather Worth ◽  
Holly Seale ◽  
Robyn L Richmond

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the nutritional status of men and the food security status of their households in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Kenya.DesignA descriptive, cross-sectional study using a questionnaire and biometric measurements was completed in June 2013.SettingIDP camp, Rongai, Kenya.SubjectsA total of 267 men aged ≥18 years residing within the camp were recruited via respondent-driven sampling. Statistical associations between categorical variables were analysed using Pearson’s χ2 tests, while independent t tests were used for continuous variables.ResultsAmong the men surveyed, we found a mean BMI of 20·3 (sd 2·5) kg/m2, with 23·9 % of participants in the underweight category (BMI<18·5 kg/m2). The mean Individual Dietary Diversity Score was 6 out of a maximum score of 9. The mean Household Food Insecurity Access Scale score was 11·6 (sd 6·8), with 180 participants (71·7 %) residing in households categorised as severely food insecure. Low monthly household income (<2000 Kenyan Shillings, or $US 25) was associated with a higher food insecurity score (P<0·001), greater likelihood of residing in a severely food-insecure household (P<0·001), low dietary diversity score (P<0·05) and being underweight (P<0·01).ConclusionsWhile the nutritional status of men in the IDP camp is comparable to non-displaced men in Kenya, household food insecurity is relatively high. Efforts to improve food security for the future are essential to minimise the impact of severe food insecurity on mental health, disease profiles and family well-being reported in other IDP settings.


2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Mohammadi ◽  
Nasrin Omidvar ◽  
Anahita Houshiar-Rad ◽  
Mohammad-Reza Khoshfetrat ◽  
Morteza Abdollahi ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the validity of a locally adapted Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) in the measurement of household food insecurity (FI) in the city of Tehran.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingUrban households were selected through a systematic cluster sampling method from six different districts of Tehran. The socio-economic status of households was evaluated using a questionnaire by means of interviews. An adapted HFIAS was used to measure FI. Content validity was assessed by an expert panel, and the questionnaire was then tested among ten households for clarity. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing the measure with a number of determinants and consequences of FI. Internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbach'sαand exploratory factor analysis. For repeatability, the questionnaire was administered twice to twenty-five households at an interval of 20 d and Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated.SubjectsA total of 416 households.ResultsIn all, 11·8 %, 14·4 % and 17·5 % of the households were severely, moderately and mildly food insecure, respectively. Cronbach'sαwas 0·855. A significant correlation was observed between the two administrations of the questionnaire (r= 0·895,P< 0·001). Factor analysis of HFIAS items revealed two factors: the first five items as factor 1 (mild-to-moderate FI) and the last four as factor 2 (severe FI). Heads of food-secure households had higher education and higher job position compared with heads of food-insecure households (P< 0·001). Income and expenditure were lower in food-insecure households compared with food-secure households.ConclusionsAdapted HFIAS showed acceptable levels of internal consistency, criterion validity and reliability in assessing household FI among Tehranians.


Food Security ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cascade Tuholske ◽  
Kwaw Andam ◽  
Jordan Blekking ◽  
Tom Evans ◽  
Kelly Caylor

AbstractThe urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to expand by nearly 800 million people in the next 30 years. How this rapid urban transition is affecting household-level urban food security, and reverberating into broader food systems, is poorly understood. To fill this gap, we use data from a 2017 survey (n = 668) of low- and middle-income residents of Accra, Ghana, to characterize and compare the predictors of household-level food security using three established metrics: the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS); the Household Food Insecurity Access Prevalence (HFIAP); and the Food Consumption Score (FCS). According to HFIAP, 70% of sampled households are food insecure, but only 2% fall below acceptable thresholds measured by FCS. Only one household reported sourcing food from modern supermarkets and fewer than 3% produce food for consumption through gardening, farming, or fishing. Instead, households rely on purchased food from traditional markets, local stalls and kiosks, and street hawkers. Results from a suite of general linear models show that household assets, education, and demographic characteristics are significantly associated with food security outcomes according to HFIAS and HFIAP. The poor correlation and weak model agreement between dietary recall such as FCS, and experience-based food security metrics, like HFIAS and HFIAP, highlight limitations of employing historically rural-centric food security measurement approaches within the urban context. Given that Sub-Saharan Africa’s future is urban, our results add empirical evidence in support of the growing chorus of scholars advocating for comprehensive urban-oriented food security research and policy agendas across Sub-Saharan Africa.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2454
Author(s):  
Christopher L Melby ◽  
Fadya Orozco ◽  
Jenni Averett ◽  
Fabián Muñoz ◽  
Maria José Romero ◽  
...  

Some rural areas of Ecuador, including the Imbabura Province of the Andes Highlands, are experiencing a double burden of malnutrition where micronutrient deficiencies persist at the same time obesity is increasing as many traditional home-grown foods are being replaced with more commercially prepared convenience foods. Thus, the relationships among agricultural food production diversity (FPD), dietary diversity (DD), and household food insecurity (HFI) of the rural small holder farmers need further study. Therefore, we examined these associations in small holder farmers residing in this Province in the Andes Highlands (elevation > 2500 m). Non-pregnant maternal home managers (n = 558, x age = 44.1, SD = 16.5 y) were interviewed regarding the number of different agricultural food crops cultivated and domestic animals raised in their family farm plots. DD was determined using the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women Score (MDD-W) based on the number of 10 different food groups consumed, and household food insecurity (HFI) was determined using the 8-item Household Food Insecurity Experience Scale. The women reported consuming an average of 53% of their total food from what they cultivated or raised. Women with higher DD [MMD-W score ≥ 5 food groups (79% of total sample)] were on farms that cultivated a greater variety of crops (x = 8.7 vs. 6.7), raised more animals (x = 17.9 vs. 12.7, p < 0.05), and reported lower HFI and significantly higher intakes of energy, protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin A (all p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that FPD was only modestly related to DD, which together with years of education, per capita family income, and HFI accounted for 26% of DD variance. In rural areas of the Imbabura Province, small holder farmers still rely heavily on consumption of self-cultivated foods, but greater diversity of crops grown in family farm plots is only weakly associated with greater DD and lower HFI among the female caretakers.


Nutrition ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Kobina Christian ◽  
Grace S. Marquis ◽  
Esi K. Colecraft ◽  
Anna Lartey ◽  
Rula Soueida

Author(s):  
Yang ◽  
Yuan ◽  
Yang ◽  
Zou ◽  
Ji ◽  
...  

Left-behind children (LBC) are a newly emerged social group in China. Poor nutritional status is particularly prominent in this population. However, their food insecurity tends to attract very little attention. This study aims to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and undernutrition (stunting and anaemia) in 3 to 5-year-old LBC in rural China. Face-to-face interviews were administered to 553 LBC caregivers in 40 rural villages of Hunan Province, China. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess household food insecurity (HFI). Dietary diversity score (DDS) and food group consumption frequency were measured by 24 h-recall and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Hemoglobin tests and anthropometric measurements including height and weight were measured by trained health professionals. Logistic regression was constructed to assess the association between household food insecurity and dietary diversity, stunting, and anaemia. A high prevalence of household food insecurity was determined (67.6%). The weighted prevalence of stunting and anaemia were 16.6% and 26.5%, respectively. Food insecurity was positively associate with LBC stunting (severe HFI: OR = 6.50, 95% CI: 2.81, 15.00; moderate HFI: OR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.60, 7.54), and anaemia (severe HFI: OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.57). LBC with food insecurity had significantly lower dietary diversity than those who were food-secure (p < 0.001). The prevalence of household food insecurity among LBC in poor rural China is high and is associated with low DDS, stunting, and anaemia. Nutritional intervention programs and policies are urgently needed to reduce household food insecurity and undernutrition for this vulnerable population.


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