A Qualitative Examination of Water Access and Related Coping Behaviors to Understand Its Link to Food Insecurity among Rural Households in the West Region in Cameroon.

Carole D Nounkeu,Jigna M Dharod

doi:10.3390/ijerph17134848

Abstract

Food insecurity is a significant public health issue, since it causes malnutrition and engenders millions of deaths every year. A significant association is found between water and food insecurity. However, it remains unclear what are the pathways through which water shortage impacts food insecurity. Hence, a qualitative study was conducted in rural areas in Cameroon to (1) examine water access, its management, and its daily use and (2) investigate common behavior changes and coping strategies adults used in managing limited water availability in their households. Three rounds of focus group discussions and six key informant interviews were conducted with men and women. The results demonstrated that water access was limited, involving long walking distances and making several trips to the water sources. The household size, number of adults vs. children, and presence of storage containers affected water availability and its daily use. To manage limited water, coping behaviors included skipping drinking, changing cooking plans, and recycling water. In conclusion, limited water access increases food insecurity through several pathways. Governments, policy makers, and international organizations should recognize the interwoven link between water and food security. Joint actions and collaborative efforts are needed to improve success and reduce tradeoffs in achieving Sustainable Development Goals # 2 and # 6.

Highlights

237 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are food insecure and experiencing chronic undernutrition due to it [1]
The Global Framework on Water Scarcity and Agriculture, or WASAG, operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), highlights that water is at the nexus of agriculture and energy production, and water scarcity can further deteriorate food security and the ability to achieve the sustainable development goal of zero hunger (SDG #2) [4]
With the goal of developing a framework on how limited water access is connected to food insecurity, an exploratory study using qualitative methodology was conducted in rural areas in the West region in Cameroon to (1) examine water access, its management, and its daily use; and, (2) investigate common behavior changes and coping strategies adults used in managing limited water availability in their households

Summary

Introduction

237 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are food insecure and experiencing chronic undernutrition due to it [1]. West and Central Africa experience the highest level of food insecurity and hunger in sub-Saharan Africa [1]. The prevalence of undernourishment in the form of inadequate weight gain during pregnancy and stunted growth among children has increased significantly in the region [1,2]. In 2019, 144 million children under five were stunted and approximately 47 million had low weight for their heights [2]. Weak commodity prices and adverse climatic condition have been attributed as origin for food crises in Africa [3]. The Global Framework on Water Scarcity and Agriculture, or WASAG, operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), highlights that water is at the nexus of agriculture and energy production, and water scarcity can further deteriorate food security and the ability to achieve the sustainable development goal of zero hunger (SDG #2) [4]

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Conclusion