Food insecurity and depressive symptoms among miners in Ghana: The role of psychosomatic factors

BackgroundHIV prevalence among IDUs in Chennai is 30‐60%. We have previously shown that there is high food insecurity in this population and depression is a psychological consequence of food insecurity.ObjectiveTo investigate how changes in food insecurity affect changes in depressive symptoms in a cohort of current and former IDUs.Methods: 201 recruited men were followed up every six months between 2007 and 2010 with food insecurity, depressive symptoms, and BMI (in kg/m2) measured each time. Food insecurity was measured by the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (possible range:0‐27) and depressive symptoms by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (possible range:0‐60).Results andConclusionOver the 3‐years, current IDUs had a 2.6 point (95%CI:4.0, 1.1) higher score on the scale for depressive symptoms compared to non‐current IDUs (p=0.0006). A unit increase in BMI was associated with a 0.4 point reduction in depressive symptoms over time (p=0.0005). There was a significant interaction between food insecurity and time (p<0.0001): At baseline, participants who were more food insecure had higher depressive symptoms than those less food insecure. The strength of this association decreased over time.HIV status was not associated with depressive symptoms. Interventions to improve nutritional status and reduce drug use can reduce depressive symptoms in this population. Further studies are needed to better elucidate the factors that influence the strength of the association between depression and food insecurity.Grant Funding Source: P30DA013868, R01DA022163

Despite growing recognition of mental health challenges in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), limited research has examined the pathways through which work stress (WS) contributes to depressive symptoms, particularly in low-resource, high-risk mining settings. This study investigated the association between WS and depressive symptoms among artisanal workers in Ghana and examined the mediating roles of emotional distress, perceived stress, and anxiety. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted among 664 artisanal workers aged 18–60 years in Ghana. WS was assessed using a 4-item Job Stress Scale, and depressive symptoms were measured with the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Emotional distress, perceived stress, and anxiety were measured using the MOS SF-36, the Perceived Stress Scale-4, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, respectively. Ordinary Least Squares regression models and bootstrapped mediation analyses were employed to estimate direct and indirect effects. The mean age of participants was 29.4 years (SD = 8.6), with 83.7% being male. After full adjustment for key covariates, WS was significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (B = 0.236, 95% CI = 0.149 to 0.322). The association was particularly evident among younger miners aged 18–35 years (B = 0.171, 95% CI = 0.064 to 0.277). Mediation analyses showed that emotional stress (~ 4%), perceived stress (~ 42%), and anxiety (~ 26%) partially mediated the association between WS and depressive symptoms. WS is significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms among mine workers in Ghana, with its effects largely explained through emotional distress, perceived stress, and anxiety. Mental health interventions targeting stress reduction and emotional regulation are urgently needed in informal mining settings, particularly for younger workers. Future studies are encouraged to clarify directionality.

The concept of food insecurity encompasses three dimensions. One of these dimensions, the access component of household food insecurity is measured through the use of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Despite its application in Ethiopia and other similar developing countries, its performance is still poorly explored. Our study aims to evaluate the validity of the HFIAS in Ethiopia. We conducted repeated cross-sectional studies in urban and rural villages of the Butajera District in southern Ethiopia. The validation was conducted on a pooled sample of 1,516 households, which were selected using a simple random sampling method. The HFIAS was translated into the local Amharic language and tested for face validity. We also evaluated the tool’s internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha and factor analysis. We tested for parallelism on HFIAS item response curves across wealth status and further evaluated the presence of a dose-response relationship between the food insecurity level and the consumption of food items, as well as between household wealth status and food insecurity. Additionally, we evaluated the reproducibility of the tool through the first and second round of HFIAS scores. The HFIAS exhibited a good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha for the values of rounds 1 and 2 were 0.76 and 0.73, respectively). A factor analysis (varimax rotation) resulted in two main factors: the first factor described a level of mild to moderate food insecurity, while the second factor described severe food insecurity. HFIAS item response curves were parallel across wealth status in the sample households, with a dose-response trend between food insecurity levels and the likelihood of previous day food consumption being observed. The overall HFIAS score did not change over the two rounds of data collection. The HFIAS is a simple and valid tool to measure the access component of household food insecurity. However, we recommend the adaptation of questions and wordings and adding examples before application, as we found a discrepancy in understanding of some of the nine HFIAS questions.

This review summarises and synthesises the existing literature on the relationship between food insecurity (FS) and mental health conditions among adult individuals experiencing homelessness. Scoping review. Papers published between 1 January 2008 and 2 November 2018, searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and CINAHL, using homelessness, food security and mental health keywords. Global evidence. Homeless adults aged 18 years or more. Nine articles (eight cross-sectional and one longitudinal) were included in the present review. FS was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module, as well as single-item or constructed measures. Depression and depressive symptoms were the most common mental health conditions studied. Other mental health conditions assessed included alcohol and substance use, emotional disorders, mental health problems symptoms severity and psychiatric hospitalisations. Composite measures such as axis I and II categories and a cluster of severe mental conditions and mental health-related functioning status were also analysed. FS and mental health-related problems were considered as both exposure and outcome variables. The existing evidence suggests a potential association between FS and several mental health conditions, particularly depression, mental health symptoms severity and poor mental health status scores. This review suggests the potential association between some mental health conditions and FS among homeless adults. However, there is a need for more longitudinal- and interventional-based studies, in order to understand the nature and directionality of the links between FS and mental health in this population group.

HIV/AIDS and food insecurity

There is growing evidence of urban poverty in and around cities in sub-Saharan Africa in the form of food and nutrition insecurity. Although many studies have been done across sub-Saharan Africa on urban agriculture, food and nutrition insecurity, little is known about the association of urban agriculture to household food and nutrition insecurity along the urban–rural continuum, especially in West African cities. Therefore, a survey was carried out between August and September 2014 in and around Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), using a transect approach to guide the data collection. The purpose of this study was to understand the dynamics of urban, periurban and rural agriculture and its association with household food and nutrition insecurity. A total of 240 households participated in the survey. From these households, data were collected on 179 women of reproductive age (15–49 yr) and 133 children under the age of 5 yr to compute Women's Dietary Diversity Scores (WDDS) and other anthropometric indices. The results of this study provide a general picture of crop production which is inclined to subsistence and income generation. Households in rural and periurban areas were more engaged in crop and livestock production compared with their urban area counterparts. Households in periurban areas had the highest relative proportion (54%) of food insecurity (household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) > 11), compared with urban areas (39%) and rural areas (45%). At the same time the periurban households had the highest relative proportion of stunting and wasting prevalence compared with urban and rural households. Households in the rural areas had the highest dietary diversity (WDDS ≥ 6), compared with periurban and urban households. Households keeping livestock significantly experienced less wasting (weight-for-height index (WHZ)) (coef = −0.15;P= 0.008) by a factor of 0.15, and overweight (body mass index (BMI)-for-age (BAZ)) (coef = −0.12;P= 0.015) by a factor of 0.12 compared with households not doing livestock keeping. Households involved in crop production significantly experienced more food insecurity, HFIAS (coef. = 2.55;P= 0.042) by a factor of 2.55 compared with households without crop production. The complexity of periurban areas coupled with the scourge of food and nutrition insecurity will require more periurban agriculture and food policy consideration.

This study fills a critical gap by assessing the prevalence and association between food insecurity and depressive and anxiety symptoms among caregivers of young children in Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from caregivers of children aged 0-3years from Lamu, Isiolo and Turkana Counties (N=446). Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scales were used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. We also administered the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, alongside sociodemographic and health-related questionnaires. The mean caregiver age was 29.37years (SD=6.56). Majority of participants (73.09%) lacked improved sanitation, and 33.86% had their first pregnancy before age 18. High levels of depressive (22.4%) and anxiety symptoms (11.2%) were observed. Food insecurity was significantly associated with both depressive (β=0.24, 95% CI [0.18 to 0.30], p<0.001) and anxiety (β=0.15, 95% CI [0.10 to 0.21], p<0.001) symptoms. Increased maternal age, higher education, and having a child with chronic illness were significant risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms. Depressive and anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among caregivers in Kenya's ASAL and are significantly associated with food insecurity. These findings underscore the need for integrating mental health screening and support into maternal and child health programs and addressing food insecurity through multi-sectoral interventions. Further research is needed to explore the nexus between food insecurity, mental health, and other contextual factors influencing caregivers and child well-being in ASAL regions.

FOREWORD by Ian Smillie, Partnership Africa Canada, Ottawa Introduction: Resuscitating the Policy and Research Agendas for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining 1. Section 1: Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in West Africa - An Overview of the Issue 2. Poverty and Economic Development in West Africa: An Historical Analysis 3. Poverty and Artisanal Mining in West Africa 4. Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in West Africa: An Overview of Sustainable Development and Environmental Issues 5. Mercury: An Agent of Poverty in West Africa's Small-Scale Gold Mining Industry 6. Fostering cooperation between small- and large-scale gold miners in West Africa 7. Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in West Africa: Achieving Sustainable Development through Environmental and Human Rights Law 8. Section 2: Country Case Studies - Francophone West Africa 9. Artisanal Mining in Mali: An Overview of the Issues 10. Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mines in Burkina Faso: Today and Tomorrow 11. Artisanal Gold Mining in Burkina Faso: Permits, Poverty and Perceptions of the Poor in Sanmatenga, The 'Land of Gold' 12. Artisanal Gold-Mining in Northern Benin: A Socio-Cultural Perspective 13. Section 3: Country Case Studies - Anglophone West Africa 14. Diamonds, poverty and war in Sierra Leone 15. Reflections on the Political Economy of Artisanal Diamond Mining in Kono District, Sierra Leone 16. Integrative Perspectives on Diamond Mining and Public Health in Akwatia, Ghana 17. Socio-Economic, Environmental and Policy Implications of Alluvial Diamond Mining in the Birim 18. 'Live and Let's Live' - The Relationship between Artisanal/Small-Scale and Large-scale miners in Ghana: The Abosso Goldfields' Experience 19. Strained relations: a critical assessment of the mining conflict in Prestea, Ghana 20. Addressing the Environmental Challenges of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Nigeria Postscript: Progress on the Horizon?

Background: Mental health problems are common among people living with HIV/AIDS and contribute to poor HIV-related outcomes, including AIDS-related mortality. We examined the association between severe food insecurity and depressive symptoms in young people living with HIV (YPLH) in Zambia. Methods: We sampled 120 youth living with HIV aged 18-21years in the Eastern Province of Zambia. Household food insecurity was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Mental health was assessed using the Children's Depression Inventory-Short Form. We fitted linear regression models to assess whether food insecurity is associated with depressive symptoms. Results: The mean age was 19years, and 63% were female. Overall, 43% were severely food insecure. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables and other confounders, severely food insecure participants were more likely to report depressive symptoms (β = 0.81, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.07-1.55) and engagement in sex work (β = 1.78, 95% CI 0.32-3.25). Conclusion: Almost half of the sample reported severe food insecurity which was associated with depressive symptoms. Interventions aimed at improving food insecurity may have beneficial effects on mental health and HIV outcomes among young people living with HIV in resource-limited settings.

Food insecurity, a pervasive global issue exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been linked to adverse mental health outcomes. However, the role of social capital in mitigating this relationship remains understudied, particularly in the Chinese context. This study investigated the associations between food insecurity and psychological distress (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and examined the potential moderating effects of bonding and bridging social capital among Chinese adults in Shanghai. This cross-sectional study included 3,220 Chinese adults (mean age: 34.45; 51.5% male) in Shanghai. Food insecurity was assessed using the modified Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, psychological distress was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and social capital was evaluated using the Revised Personal Social Capital Scale. Multivariable linear regression analyses revealed that food insecurity was significantly positively associated with both depressive (β = 0.449, SE = 0.024) and anxiety symptoms (β = 0.391, SE = 0.022), after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and COVID-19-related factors. Higher levels of bonding and bridging social capital were significantly associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms. Significant interactions (p < .001) between bonding social capital and food insecurity indicated that the associations between food insecurity and psychological distress were less pronounced among adults with higher bonding social capital. These findings highlight the critical role of food insecurity as a risk factor for psychological distress and the importance of bonding social capital in mitigating its impact on mental health. Policies and interventions targeting food insecurity prevention and bonding social capital enhancement may promote better mental health outcomes among Chinese adults.

ObjectiveTo assess the association between food insecurity and depression symptom severity stratified by sex, and test for evidence of effect modification by social network characteristics.DesignA population-based cross-sectional study. The nine-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale captured food insecurity. Five name generator questions elicited network ties. A 16-item version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for Depression captured depression symptom severity. Linear regression was used to estimate the association between food insecurity and depression symptom severity, while adjusting for potential confounders and to test for potential network moderators.SettingIn-home survey interviews in Southwestern UgandaSubjectsAll adult residents across eight rural villages; 96% response rate (n=1,669).ResultsSevere food insecurity was associated with greater depression symptom severity (b = 0.4, 95% CI (0.3 to 0.5), p<.001 for women; b = 0.3, 95% CI (0.2 to0.4), p<.001 for men). There was no evidence of effect modification by social network factors for women. However, for men who are highly embedded within in their village social network, and, separately, for men who have few poor contacts in their personal network, the relationship between severe food insecurity and depression symptoms was stronger than for men on the periphery of their village social network, and for men with many poor personal network contacts, respectively.ConclusionsIn this population-based study from rural Uganda, food insecurity was associated with mental health for both men and women. Future research is needed on networks and food insecurity-related shame in relation to depression symptoms among food insecure men.

The study presents findings on comparative analysis of household food insecurity status among rice farmers in the Savanna and the Rainforest agro-ecological zones in Southwest States, Nigeria. Primary data were used and obtained through the administration of a well structured questionnaire. A multistage random sampling was used to select 577 rice farmers in the study area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, household food insecurity access (HFIA) scale, household food insecurity access prevalence (HFIAP) scale, likert scale and linear regression model. The results revealed that majority of the rice farmer’s fall within 31-50 years of age bracket, with household size of 5-8 persons, married, with farming experiences and have small farm size. The findings from average household food insecurity access scale scores in the Savanna and the Rainforest agro-ecological zones were 4.0 (mildly food insecure) and 5.2 (moderately food insecure) respectively. The results of HFIAP indicator revealed that about 39.1% and 33.5% of respondents were classified as food secure, 8% and 13.9% were mildly food insecure, 15.1% and 22.2% were moderately food insecure and 37.8% and 30.4% were severely food insecure in the Savanna and the Rainforest agro-ecological zones respectively. The major coping strategies adopted by the respondents against food insecurity include reduce the quantity of food consumed and eating but not satisfied. The linear regression model revealed that age, sex, years in school, farm size, household size, farming experience, rice farming experience and tenure system significantly affect household’s food insecurity status. To transport from food insecure to food secure, age, sex, years in school, farm size, household size, farming experience, rice farming experience and tenure system alleviation policies are imperative.

The growing threat of climate change has worsened food insecurity worldwide, particularly for smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, South Africa. This study aims to compare the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) indicators before and after the impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers in KZN in 2024. A systematic sampling approach, combined with a descriptive study design, was employed to select sixty farmers. Data on personal characteristics and HFIAS were collected, subjected to face validity and reliability tests, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29, with frequency counts, percentages, and paired sample t-tests. The comparison of food security before and after the effects of climate change shows a significant difference (t = -6.70, p &lt; 0.01). The findings suggest that climate change exacerbates food insecurity, particularly affecting elements such as food availability, access, perception, and insecurity prevalence. The study concludes that climate change has worsened food insecurity on smallholder farms, particularly by increasing dependence on purchased food. The policy implications emphasize areas that need targeted interventions, driven by increased indicators of food availability, access, perception, and insecurity following the onset of climate change. The study recommends strategies to enhance farmers' resilience, including expanding access to climate-smart agricultural technologies and extending agricultural extension services.

This study was conducted in order to determine whether food insecurity is associated with poor mental health outcomes among people with HIV (PWH) in Togo and Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. Cross-sectional study among participants enrolled in the International epidemiological Databases to Evaluate AIDS West Africa cohort. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale was used to measure food insecurity. The PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5, and AUDIT-C instruments were used to assess depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and harmful alcohol use, respectively. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with poor mental health outcomes. Among 584 participants (68.8% female, median age 52 years), nearly half (48.1%) were food insecure; 7.0% were mildly food insecure, 26.7% were moderately food insecure, and 14.4% were severely food insecure. Severe food insecurity [odds ratio (OR) 2.63 (1.30-5.34)] and being widowed [OR 2.15 (1.07-4.30)] were associated with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms and formal education was protective [OR 0.30 (0.15-0.61)]; there was a trend towards an association between severe food insecurity and moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms [OR 2.14 (0.98-4.70)] and formal education was protective [OR 0.35 (0.18-0.71)]; severe food insecurity [OR 6.87 (2.89-16.38)] and being widowed [OR 3.55 (1.46-8.59)] were associated with PTSD; mild food insecurity [OR 2.74 (1.20-6.26)] and male sex [OR 11.58 (5.44-24.68)] were associated with high risk alcohol use. Food insecurity is associated with poor mental health outcomes among PWH in Togo and Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. Future studies to understand and address the causal links between food insecurity and mental health among PWH are warranted.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of global public health and has the potential to cause severe food and water insecurity due to economic recession during lockdown for people living in low-middle income countries like Bangladesh where capital resources are scarce. There is growing evidence that household food and water insecurity has been associated with poor psychological outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the association between household food and water insecurity with mental health and whether these differed among urban-rural households. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 545 participants immediately after the COVID-19 lockdown period in Bangladesh (August 1-September 30, 2020). Household food and water security were determined using a 9-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) (score range 0-27) and a 12-item Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) scale (score range 0-36), respectively. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to evaluate mental health. Multivariable logistic regression examined the association between household food and water insecurity with perceived stress, adjusting socioeconomic characteristics. An urban-rural stratified analysis was also performed. About 72.84% (397) respondents reported high stress and more than 70% of households suffered from food and water insecurity during the lockdown period. After adjusting covariates, logistic regression model results show that food insecurity was associated with a 1.07-point increase in high perceived stress (OR=1.07, 95% CI=1.01-1.11, p<0.01) while water insecurity was associated with 1.03 times greater odds of high perceived stress (OR=1.03, 95% CI=0.93-1.23, p<0.05). In stratified analysis, only food insecurity was associated with high perceived stress in the urban household (OR=1.08, 95% CI=1.00-1.11, p<0.05). However, none of the household insecurity was associated with perceived stress in rural households. Interventions that promote equal access to resources for low-income individuals will likely to be more effective to alleviate economic burden of pandemic.