Extent Of Food Insecurity Research Articles

A lack of food for thought: Midlife food insecurity and its association with subsequent cognitive ability of Older Americans.

The 50-59 age group in the U.S. experience higher levels of food insecurity (FI) compared to older adults. While previous research has identified an association between FI and cognition outcomes in older populations, limited research has examined midlife as a specific food insecurity exposure window and the association of this hardship with long-run cognition outcomes. Utilizing 14 waves of Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) data (1995-2020), I applied mixed-effects models to assess the relationship between midlife FI exposure and later-life cognitive function, controlling for childhood disadvantages and other health-related and sociodemographic characteristics. Findings indicate that both cumulative FI duration and ever experiencing FI during ages 50-59 are significantly associated with subsequent cognitive decline. Specifically, ever experiencing food insecurity during midlife was linked to a decrease in cognitive function by 0.07 standard units (95% CI, -0.13 to -0.003; P<0.05). In addition, each additional year of FI exposure during midlife was associated with a reduction in cognitive function by 0.01 standard units (95% CI, -0.03 to -0.003; P<0.05). These associations remained robust even after accounting for a range of potential confounders and covariates. The findings support the cumulative inequality model, suggesting that midlife food insecurity is a significant predictor of lower cognitive function in later life. Both the timing and extent of FI during midlife are crucial factors in shaping cognitive health outcomes. Policy interventions targeting food insecurity in the 50-59 age group could play a pivotal role in promoting healthy aging and mitigating cognitive decline in older adulthood.

Even hungrier for knowledge: A 10-year follow-up study on vulnerability to food insecurity amongst students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

Research on the extent of food insecurity amongst the South African university student population has gained momentum over the past decade, and for good reason. Along with the multiple other challenges that South African university students face (e.g. funding shortfalls, limited access to student housing, high levels of failure and dropout, institutional bureaucracy, and oppressive colonial legacies), students being chronically hungry and unable to access safe and nutritious food on a regular basis remains a notable crisis. This article reports on a 10-year follow-up study on the extent of vulnerability to food insecurity amongst students registered at the University of ABC (UABC). Whereas data collected for the initial 2007–2009 study only targeted students from one of the five UABC campuses, the current study improved on the sampling strategy and collected data from 438 students registered across all five UABC campuses in 2018. Using the University Students Food Insecurity Questionnaire, as developed during the initial study and adapted from the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, the findings from the current study suggest that 49% of the UABC student population experience serious to severe levels of vulnerability to food insecurity. This is more than double the reported levels of serious to severe vulnerability to food insecurity found in the initial study. This article reports on how and why food insecurity levels may have escalated unchecked over the past decade.

Food policy and food security in Northern Bangladesh: An empirical study of the impact of food policy on household food security

Food insecurity is an ongoing national concern both in developing and in developed countries. Well-designed food policies, including aspects such as food production, distribution, consumption, availability, purchasing procedures, techniques of food processing and marketing, and food support, may contribute to solving the problem of food insecurity at household level. We study the impact of government provided food support on the households’ daily calorie intake, as well as on the food security index by using survey data from three sub-districts (Puthia, Paba and Charghat) of the Rajshahi district in Bangladesh. The survey was conducted using 160 households out of which 41.9 percent were food support receivers and 58.1 percent were food support non-receivers. The extent of food insecurity among the respondents was estimated by calculating the daily mean calorie intake and the food security index. The PSM (propensity score matching) technique was used to assess the effects of government food support on rural households’ food insecurity. The results have shown that dissimilarities exist in unobserved characteristics between the two groups, as food prices and own agricultural production may influence the households’ decision to receive or not government food support. This has influenced the calorie intake and the food security index of the sample respondents. A comparison of the means of the matched sample showed that the two groups did not differ in food expenditure. Therefore, the impact of government food support on the calorie intake or the food security index may not be underestimated. The study concluded that food policy in the form of government food support can be efficiently implemented in a well-functioning socio-economic system.

SDG4 and the Ambiguity of Sustainable Development: The Case of Poor Schools in South Africa

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was conceived as a blueprint for development and an acknowledgment that poverty and multiple deprivations continue to plague large sections of the world’s population. Target 4.7 of SDG4, in particular, reads as follows: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development”. This article considers the question of how schools in contexts of extreme poverty and deprivation can sustain their continued existence. It aims to establish the specific nature of such contexts and engages in a discussion of the ethicality and complexity of imposing sustainable development content knowledge on children living at the edge of survival. Data from eight school principals were generated using a qualitative research approach that employed a series of in-depth interviews and onsite observations. The findings reveal the extent of community poverty and its effects on schools, the extent of neglect regarding poor schools and their struggles with sustainability, the extent of food insecurity and in-school feeding schemes, as well as the levels of desperation felt by school principals as they respond to the conditions they encounter. Teaching (and learning) the content of this Target 4.7 is likely to present a particularly complex challenge in those school contexts characterized by severe destitution and deprivation, given the content’s middle-classness in contradistinction to the immediate lived experience of the destitute.

Small farms and development in sub-Saharan Africa: Farming for food, for income or for lack of better options?

Most food in sub-Saharan Africa is produced on small farms. Using large datasets from household surveys conducted across many countries, we find that the majority of farms are less than 1 ha, much smaller than previous estimates. Farms are larger in farming systems in drier climates. Through a detailed analysis of food self-sufficiency, food and nutrition security, and income among households from divergent farming systems in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda, we reveal marked contrasts in food security and household incomes. In the south of Mali, where cotton is an important cash crop, almost all households are food secure, and almost half earn a living income. Yet, in a similar agroecological environment in northern Ghana, only 10% of households are food secure and none earn a living income. Surprisingly, the extent of food insecurity and poverty is almost as great in densely-populated locations in the Ethiopian and Tanzanian highlands that are characterised by much better soils and two cropping seasons a year. Where populations are less dense, such as in South-west Uganda, a larger proportion of the households are food self-sufficient and poverty is less prevalent. In densely-populated Central Malawi, a combination of a single cropping season a year and small farms results in a strong incidence of food insecurity and poverty. These examples reveal a strong interplay between population density, farm size, market access, and agroecological potential on food security and household incomes. Within each location, farm size is a major determinant of food self-sufficiency and a household’s ability to rise above the living income threshold. Closing yield gaps strongly increases the proportion of households that are food self-sufficient. Yet in four of the locations (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana and Malawi), land is so constraining that only 42–53% of households achieve food self-sufficiency, and even when yield gaps are closed only a small proportion of households can achieve a living income. While farming remains of central importance to household food security and income, our results help to explain why off-farm employment is a must for many. We discuss these results in relation to sub-Saharan Africa’s increasing population, likely agricultural expansion, and agriculture’s role in future economic development.

Newspaper coverage of food insecurity in UK, 2016\u20132019: a multi-method analysis

BackgroundFood insecurity is a growing concern in the UK. Newspaper coverage can reflect and shape public and political views. We examined how frequently food insecurity was reported on in UK newspapers, how the problem and its drivers were described, and which solutions were proposed.MethodsUsing Factiva, we searched for news articles that were substantively about food insecurity and published in national UK newspapers between 01 January 2016 and 11 June 2019. We examined whether the number of articles differed over the study period, and conducted a thematic analysis to theoretical saturation using a random sample of articles.ResultsOverall, 436 articles met our inclusion criteria and 132 (30%) were analysed thematically. Reporting was more prevalent in the summer, with mentions of ‘holiday hunger’ among children, and leading up to Christmas, when charity was encouraged. Articles often contained views from advocacy groups and charities, who appeared to play an important role in maintaining news interest in food insecurity. From the thematic analysis, we developed themes related to the problems (‘definitions of food insecurity’ and ‘consequences of food insecurity for individuals’), drivers (‘insufficient income as an immediate driver’ and ‘government versus individual responsibility’), and solutions (‘charitable food aid’ and ‘calls for government action’). The problem of food insecurity was often defined by food bank use or hunger, but other definitions and a range of consequences for individuals were acknowledged. Articles identified government as a driver of food insecurity, especially in relation to the roll-out of Universal Credit. Few articles proposed individual failings as a driver of food insecurity. The reported existing solutions predominantly focused on food banking and redistributing ‘food waste’. The public, charities, and individuals experiencing food insecurity were generally portrayed as supportive of government action to tackle food insecurity. However, contention within government regarding the extent of food insecurity, governmental responsibility and potential solutions was reported.ConclusionsFood insecurity was a topic of significant interest within UK newspapers. Newspapers were used to call for government action and advocate for structural, income-based solutions.

Genetic and genomic resources for improving proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.): a potential crop for food and nutritional security

Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is a food crop domesticated around 10,000 years ago, that has been prevalent throughout ancient civilization. However, use of millets in the diets has drastically been reduced owing to the addition of cereals such as rice and wheat. At present, proso millet is being cultivated and consumed by a marginal population. Irrespective of the lack of popularity, the crop is well known for its climate resilience traits as well as nutritional properties. Noteworthy, the crop is low on glycemic index, gluten-free, possesses good quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutraceutical properties. Being a C4 panicoid species, proso millet possesses better water-use and nitrogen-use efficiency, thus promising this as an ideal crop for cultivation in the scenario of global climate change. The extent of food insecurity among the ever-growing population, as well as the prevalence of malnutrition and undernutrition among the children, reinstate the requirement of a nutritious diet that millets and other traditionally important crops can address. Given this, the present review enumerates the progress made in genetics, genomics, and other omics of proso millet that would pave way for improvement using biotechnological as well as breeding interventions. Further, this review elaborates a roadmap for improving this crop in the mainstream cropping system.

Relative Severity of Food Insecurity During Overland Migration in Transit Through Mexico.

Despite anecdotal reports of food insufficiency in the overland migration through Mexico, little is known about the frequency and extent of food insecurity during this transit. In a shelter in north central Mexico, we interviewed 95 Central American migrants traveling overland to the US regarding their experiences of food insecurity in transit. 74% experienced some degree of food insecurity, ranging from having only one meal to no food at all in one or several consecutive 24h periods. Factors associated with relatively more severe food insecurity included more days in active transit, more severe illness impacting mobility, or travel companion illness in the prior 2 weeks. Illness was predicted by a pre-migration diagnosis of chronic disease. Understanding the factors associated with relative severity of food insecurity during overland migration can inform policies for prioritizing assistance and prevention.

Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Explore Food Insecurity in African American Adults

ABSTRACTBackground: Food insecurity is an ongoing national problem and is linked to chronic diseases and other poor health outcomes. Concerning are the rates in racial and ethnic minorities. Food insecurity is significantly high in African Americans older adults. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to use a Community-Based Participatory Research approach to assess the extent of food insecurity and associated factors in a sample of African American adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study design with purposive, convenience sampling was used. The survey included the 10-item USDA Food Security Module, fruit and vegetable intake questions, and sociodemographic items. Results: Results indicated that food insecurity was very high and was associated with being ≥65 years old, not having a spouse/partner, living alone, and residing in an urban location. Discussion: The CBPR approach resulted in changes to the survey, engaged community partners, access to a vulnerable population, and plans to build on the findings to address food insecurity in the community. Further research is needed to examine the associated factors. Translation to Health Education Practice: Given the complex nature of food insecurity and the findings from this study, research that engage the community and focus on multilevel interventions are recommended.

Food Insecurity, Morbidities, and Substance Use in Adults on Probation in Rhode Island.

When individuals are on probation, they face challenges with securing employment and safe housing due to their criminal records, which may make food access problematic. Food insecurity is a construct used as a marker for food access that considers financial constraints and has been associated with poorer health and substance use. There is limited research on the extent of food insecurity and associated morbidities and substance use among adults on probation. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2016, surveying 304 probationers in Rhode Island to determine whether food insecurity is associated with obesity, high blood pressure, depression, and substance use. Separate logistic regression models were used to determine the associations between food insecurity and obesity, high blood pressure, depression, and substance use. Food insecurity was experienced by 70% of our study population. The estimated prevalence of high blood pressure was significantly higher in our study sample compared to the general US population. Food insecurity was not associated with obesity, high blood pressure, or current drug use in this study sample. Food insecurity was independently associated with more than three times greater odds of being depressed (AOR 3.33, 95%CI 1.89, 5.86) and a nearly twofold greater odds of self-reporting a lower health status (AOR 1.91, 95%CI 1.18, 3.10) after adjusting for gender, race/ethnicity, age, income categories, and being homeless. Probationers were found to have a higher estimated prevalence of high blood pressure and food insecurity compared to the general population, which highlights the health disparities faced by this population. Our findings have important implications for future research and interventions to decrease the health burden not only on the individuals but their families and communities.

A Public-Private Partnership to Mitigate Food Insecurity and Food Waste in Orange County, California.

Food insecurity is a global issue that arises owing to systemic socioeconomic inequities and environmental constraints. To highlight the existence and the extent of food insecurity and food waste, the Orange County Health Department in Orange County, California, created a coalition called "Waste Not Orange County." Orange County is the sixth most populous county in California and has the highest median income, yet 11.4% of those residing in Orange County are food insecure, and 24.0% live in poverty. The overall vision of the coalition is to mitigate hunger in Orange County by educating the community about food donations, identifying food-insecure individuals, and connecting those individuals to sources of food. We examine the coalition's impacts between 2014 and 2016.

Food insecurity in urban poor households in Mumbai, India

India ranks 66th of 88 countries in the Global Hunger Index and has a quarter of the world’s hungry. Food security status of 377 million inhabitants of India’s urban areas, of which one-fourth live in extreme poverty, is poorly documented. The purpose of this study was to determine (a) the extent of food insecurity among households in urban slums, (b) to quantitatively assess their subjective experiences related to food insecurity and (c) to identify sub-groups among the urban poor that are vulnerable to food insecurity. A cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey of adult female respondents from 283 households, selected using two-stage cluster sampling, was conducted in slums across three municipal wards in the city of Mumbai. Food insecurity, as measured by the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), was found in a large number of households in the urban slums of Mumbai; 59.7 % (n = 169) households were categorized as severely food-insecure, 16.6 % (n = 47) as mildly to moderately food-insecure, and 23.7 % (n = 67) as food-secure. Further analysis revealed that severe food insecurity was significantly associated with lower monthly household income and other socioeconomic status measures such as lower household monthly per capita income, lower rank in the standard of living index (SLI) and less monthly per capita expense on food items. Households where the woman was the primary income-earner and contributed the largest share to the monthly household income, and was older, less educated, with less media use or access were more likely to experience severe food insecurity. Although corrective steps at the household level such as livelihood security schemes and income generation programs are necessary, they will not be sufficient to eliminate this problem; state intervention is required in order to assure food security for the urban poor. The Government of India has drafted a Food Security Bill; but the criteria for determining which households are vulnerable and deserving are still being debated. The findings of this study highlight the urgency of corrective action and also provide pointers for the identification of vulnerable or priority sub-groups. Food security policies and programs have to be implemented immediately and effectively in order to ensure that subsidies and food items are allocated to the households of the vulnerable urban poor.

Got Milk? Food Insecurity in a Dairyland Community

Though local food assistance sites in a Wisconsin community report increases in use of their services, the amount of food insecurity clients experience was not known. Therefore, the extent of food insecurity was measured using the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) “Guide to Measuring Household Food Insecurity.” A purposive convenience sample of 165 individuals seeking food assistance at local food banks and meal sites was surveyed and asked questions about hunger in their households. The results demonstrated that clients of food banks experienced higher levels of food insecurity and were more likely to lack calcium-rich foods and vitamin C in their diets than those seeking assistance at meal sites. Because this study was conducted in Wisconsin, America's Dairyland, a lack of calcium-rich foods was an especially surprising finding.

Food Security in South Asia with Special Reference to India

The paper aims to study the extent of food insecurity in South Asian Countries (SAC) with special focus on India. Agriculture is the predominant sector of economies of all SAC and poverty and hunger are the most serious problems faced by this region. Agriculture is caught in a low equilibrium trap with low productivity of staples, supply shortfalls, high prices, low returns to farmers and area diversification, which result in a threat to food security. The growth of agricultural output has slowed down in most of these countries and in other countries where growth is still reasonably high, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain that. India has produced adequate food reflected in mounting buffer stocks, but there are millions of food insecure and undernourished people. The per capita availability of foodgrains has fallen substantially during the last decade of reforms. Besides this, decreasing per capita availability of arable land, climate change risks and natural resource degradation are compounding the challenge of meeting food demand. India needs an agricultural growth rate of 4.0 to 4.5 percent to reduce poverty and food insecurity significantly and needs to take necessary steps towards achieving food security.

Determinants and Dimensions of Household Food Insecurity in Dire Dawa Town, Ethiopia

Based on primary data collected from 200 household in 2005, this study scrutinizes determinants and the extent of food insecurity in Dire Dawa town. A binary logit model has identified household size, daily income and proportion of expenditure on food, education of household head, sex of household head, access to credit and marital status of the household as significant determinants of food insecurity in the study area. The FGT index result has revealed that 43% of the sampled households cannot meet the daily recommended caloric requirement with a food insecurity gap of 13%. The findings call for action-based advocacy on family planning to curb population growth, provision of technical training to the unemployed that enhances job creativity and competitiveness on the market, access to credit for the needy with proper targeting criterion and expansion of both formal and informal education.

Indicators for monitoring hunger at global and subnational levels

This paper presents three different hunger indicators and outlines how they can be used to assess the extent of food insecurity in population groups globally and within countries at community, regional, or other subnational levels. Hunger refers to the supply, access, consumption, and intake of food at levels that are insufficient to fulfill human requirements. If the requirements are not met through the adequate absorption and use of essential nutrients, food deprivation and undernutrition occur.

The Food and Nutrition Situation in Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic States

The significant differences among the Central and Eastern European countries in their economic and agricultural development have a bearing on their food and nutrition situation. This paper, following brief introductory sections relating to the key demographic and economic indicators, highlights the trends in per capita food and agricultural production and per capita food availability, including the quality of the average diet. Finally the extent of food insecurity in the different countries is discussed.

Household food security in rural Uganda: A statistical analysis

No effective food security policy can be developed without knowledge of the dimensions of food insecurity problem at the household level. Using cross‐sectional data of a sample of 300 rural households from three districts in Uganda, Kiboga, Mbarara and Pallisa, this paper examines the extent of food insecurity at the household level. To this end, both objective and subjective measures of household food security are employed. The findings suggest that households derived over 30 percent, 40 percent and 60 percent of their protein, iron and food energy intakes, respectively, from starchy staples. They further suggest that food insecurity does exist in the sampled areas, with a higher percentage of caloric insecure households. Households developed several forms of coping strategies to minimise the consequences of food shortages with no public assistance. The major alternative strategies for improving household food security emerging from the analysis include advocacy, changes in the dietary consumption behaviour, promotion of nutrition education and improving effective access to productive resources.