Food Coping Strategies Research Articles

Differing Within-Household Food Security Statuses Are Associated with Varied Maternal Mental Health Outcomes.

Household food insecurity is not necessarily equally experienced by all household members, with mothers often changing their intake first when food resources are limited. The purpose of this study was to understand the association between maternal mental health and intrahousehold differences in food security statuses. A cross-sectional survey was administered to Virginia mothers with low income (August-October 2021), assessing validated measures of food security, mental and physical health and related factors. Participants (n = 570) were grouped according to the food security status of adults and children within the household. Linear regression was used to assess the outcomes of interest by group and controlled for key demographic variables. Mothers in households with any food insecurity reported worse overall mental health and used 3-4 more food coping strategies than households experiencing food security (p < 0.05). Only mothers in households where adults experienced food insecurity reported significantly greater anxiety and depressive symptoms (61.5 and 58.1, respectively) compared to households experiencing food security (55.7 and 52.4, p < 0.001). While any experience of household food insecurity is associated with worse maternal mental health, there were differences by the within-household food security status. Future research should explore screening measures that capture specific household members' food security to connect households with available resources.

Government Capacity: Evidence from Nepal

Autonomous local governments are essential for maintaining stable economic and social development mechanisms and democratic regimes. The prime objective of the article is to examine the impact of pressure-capacity variables on local governance. Two sources of data, such as NPHC 2021 and LISA are used. Overall local government of Nepal has still weak performance as only 38 percent of total municipals have secured good ranking status. Based on PCP framework, total score of 10 composite indicators generated by LISA and some population management related characteristics (e.g., sex ratio, population density, literacy, household size, and two food coping strategy related variables) have been examined using multiple regression to understand interrelationship response and explanatory variables. The statistical analysis shows that there is a string relationship between pressure and capacity variables. Individually, three population related variables such as sex ratio, literacy and household size are positively correlated with total score of 10 indicators with low coefficient of determination. In addition to strengthening existing gender status, educational level and population growth, more socioeconomic and environment related variables as explanatory variables are necessary to link government capacity and its performance in Nepal.

Fostering healthy ageing through understanding food coping strategies

PurposePreventative public health policies often rely on objective criteria to identify people in vulnerable situations. Age is one of the criteria when investigating the risk of malnutrition associated with ageing. By looking at changes in the food practices of individuals as they age, this study aims to seek to contribute to more precise targeting of older adults in view of the dynamic nature of ageing.Design/methodology/approachFrom a theoretical perspective, this research is based on the life course paradigm. Data were collected from 42 semi-structured interviews with retirees aged 60 and over.FindingsThe results show that some ageing events lead to immense reconfigurations of individuals’ lives, implying changes as prior food practices are extensively replaced by new ones (“rebuilding after a tsunami”). Other more diffuse and gradual effects of ageing lead to adaptations of previous food practices and, in a more localised way, areas that can be targeted by healthy eating campaigns (“plugging the gaps”). Lastly, this study shows that a normative perspective can help endorse a new social role (“getting into character”), and that relying on their human capital (“it’s a matter of perspective”) can help people cope with new age-related mindsets.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample did not include individuals with serious physical or mental health problems at the time of the interviews.Practical implicationsThe study identifies social, biological and psychological events related to ageing that have an impact on food practices, as well as moments and milestones for developing public policy campaigns to promote healthy eating.Originality/valueThe study gives insights into the place of food in the process of coping with ageing, showing that food can be either a problem to solve or a resource to help cope with social or psychological imbalances. The holistic view adopted contributes to identifying other events that impact food practices (and consequently health) during the ageing process.

Food Insecurity Resilience Capacity of Rural Households in the Face of Induced-Weather Extremities in Bauchi State of Nigeria

It is no longer a chasm that human existence is being threatened by induced-weather vagaries. Given the dynamic nature of the weather vagaries, if tacit actions are not taken on continuum basis, soonest, human race will go into extinction because of the steep devastating push effect of climate change. It is in lieu of the foregoing, that the researchers conceptualized a study that assessed rural households’ food insecurity resilience capacity in Nigeria’s Bauchi state using a resilience index measurement analysis (RIMA II), a novel methodological approach developed by FAO for studying such scenario, as literature review showed no evidence of its application in the study area. Adopting a multi-stage random sampling technique, a total of 322 households were randomly sampled from a sampling frame obtained by a reconnaissance survey. Using a well-structured questionnaire complemented with interview schedule, rural households’ survey data were collected in the year 2022. Besides, the collected data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Empirically, it was established that the study area is challenged with food insecurity that owes majorly to poor food utilization and stability. Besides, poor food insecurity resilience capacity majorly due to vulnerable adaptive capacity was unmasked as the push effect behind food insecurity bane in the study area. However, evidence showed that food insecurity resilience capacity has a lasting effect on general well-being of rural households while households’ hunger resilience capacity has a transitory effect as it can only contain food crises on the short-term basis. Nevertheless, income and consumption smoothening were the commonest short-term food coping strategies adopted in the study area. To achieve the sustainable development goals of zero hunger by 2030, it becomes imperative on policymakers to sensitize rural households on the need to adopt safe and eco-friendly improved indigenous food technologies so as to address the poor states of food utilization and stability affecting food security of the study area.

Household food coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Padang City

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted life sectors, including food access. It drives people to make some responses called food coping strategies to adapt to the current situation to fulfill their food access. This study aimed to analyze some of the food coping strategies done by households in Padang City during the pandemic. It was a descriptive study involving 87 households in Padang City located in the working areas of Anak Air, Lubuk Buaya, and Seberang Padang Health Center. Data on household characteristics and food coping strategies were collected through direct interviews. Data analysis showed a decrease in the household economic situation, shown by a 7,7% decrease in total expenditure per capita in a group below 40% compared to last year. 65,5% of the households did a tingkat two food coping strategy, and 14,9% even had to do the most extreme. Most of the households did food coping strategies by changing their food habits. We hope that government can evaluate the current policy so that no household has to do the most extreme coping strategies.

PERAN KEARIFAN LOKAL DESA ADAT PENGLIPURAN DALAM KETAHANAN PANGAN RUMAH TANGGA PASCA PANDEMI COVID-19 SEBAGAI DESA WISATA BERBASIS MASYARAKAT

Penglipuran Tourism Village is one of the Traditional Villages developed in Indonesia which is located in Bali, in its management the Traditional Village is very concerned about the environment and local wisdom, as well as the concept of community-based development. The majority of people's goods are artisans and related to tourism, this has led to a reduction in working hours during Covid-19, so this has also had a negative impact on family income. During the post-Covid-19 pandemic, the Penglipuran indigenous village community was visited by tourists again and the economic system was better than during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the economic system was not as stable as before the pandemic, this was shown by the level of household food security, where people still there are those who carry out Food Coping Strategy at Level I as much as 80% and Level II as much as 20%, the Coping Strategy Level, and do not carry out drastic steps or food fulfillment mechanisms or Coping Strategy at Level III, Penglipuran Village Indigenous people as a Food Security Tourism Village based on the mechanism of fulfilling food needs or Food Coping Strategy at the household level.

COVID-19, food coping strategies and households resilience: the case of informal sector in Burkina Faso.

The closure of markets in the city of Ouagadougou due to COVID-19 pandemic has had consequences on the food security status of households, in particular households of informal sector. The objective of this paper is to analyze the effect of COVID-19 on households' likelihood to resort to food coping strategies taking into account their resilience capacities. A survey was carried out among 503 households of small traders in five markets in the city of Ouagadougou. This survey identified seven mutually inclusive food coping strategies which are endogenous and exogenous to households. Thus, the multivariate probit model was used to identify the factors explaining the adoption of these strategies. The results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on households' likelihood to use certain food coping strategies. Furthermore, the results show that assets and access to basic services is the main pillar of household resilience that reduces how likely a household resort to coping strategies due to COVID-19. Therefore, strengthening adaptive capacity and improving social security of households of informal sector are relevant.

Developing a conceptual framework for the relationship between food security status and mental health among low-income mothers

IntroductionBuilding household resiliency is one strategy that may help insulate households from the effects of food system volatility that contributes to in food insecurity. A stronger understanding of the relationship between food security and mental health is needed to identify potential factors for intervention to improve household resiliency to food system stressors. Because mothers often make household food decisions, they are an important population for building household resiliency. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a conceptual framework for the relationship between food security and mental health for low-income mothers and to identify potential targets for intervention.MethodsA conceptual framework was developed based on the existing literature on mental health and food security, as well as factors that impact both constructs. This framework was tested by a path analysis using data from a 2021 cross-sectional survey of low-income Virginia mothers that used validated scales to assess food security status, indicators of mental and physical health, food coping strategies, and social support.Results and discussionThe initial model was systematically adapted to develop the final retained model. The retained model did not include a direct effect of food security on mental health, but highlighted two significant mediators of the relationship, food coping strategies and social support. While the effect of social support was not practically significant, the effects of food coping strategies as a mediator from food security to perceived stress and life satisfaction were small (β = 0.21, 0.14, respectively; p &amp;lt; 0.001). The retained model provides a framework for understanding the relationship between food security and mental health and highlights potential targets for intervention. Notably, reducing the need for mothers to utilize food coping strategies should be targeted on multiple levels to reduce the impact on mental health and ultimately improve resiliency to future food system shocks.

Food Coping Strategies dan Aplikasi Pemantau Status Gizi Sebagai Upaya Preventif Stunting

Stunting is a chronic nutritional deficiency prone to occur in children due to a lack of nutritional intake for a long time starting before the mother is pregnant and until the child is two years old. It is necessary to provide information and education about prevention, early detection and efforts to fulfill nutritional needs.This community service activity aims to increase knowledge of stunting early detection, how to prevent stunting, and improve food coping strategies skills in the household by utilizing food ingredients that are easily found in the surrounding environment. The method used is the preparation of a book with the title "Food Coping Strategies as an Efforts to Prevent Stunting" and the development of the Nutrition Status Monitoring Application (APSI) which was carried out in June-July 2022, as well as providing materials, socialization, and demonstration of cooking competition in August 2022 in the Karanganyar village, Bogorejo District, Blora. The number of participants in this activity was 75 people, consisting of mothers of children under five, women of childbearing age, prospective brides, village officials, representatives of sub-districts and health centers. The results of the Wilcoxon signed ranks test showed that the participants' knowledge about stunting increased after participating in this community service activity (p = 0.001). The activity participants also experienced an increase in skills in choosing, processing, and serving nutrient-rich food made from Moringa leaves as a superior potential in Karanganyar Village.

Understanding the Relationship between Food Security and Mental Health for Food-Insecure Mothers in Virginia.

Food insecurity, which disproportionately impacts mothers, can have chronic consequences on physical and mental health. There is a relationship between food insecurity and mental health, but the relationship’s mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to understand how mental health outcomes differ by food insecurity severity and race among Virginia mothers. A cross-sectional survey employed previously validated food security status measures, physical and mental health, social support, and food coping strategies. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank-order correlations, linear regression, and chi-squared with effect sizes. Overall, respondents (n = 1029) reported worse mental health than the U.S. average (44.3 ± 10.1 and 50, respectively). There was a large effect of food security on mental health (d = 0.6), with worse mental health outcomes for mothers experiencing very low food security (VLFS) than low food security (LFS; p < 0.001). There was a small effect of race on mental health (φc = 0.02), with Black mothers having better mental health than White mothers (p < 0.001). Compared to mothers experiencing LFS, mothers experiencing VLFS had less social support (d = 0.5) and used more food coping strategies, especially financial strategies (d = −1.5; p < 0.001). This study suggests that food-insecure mothers experience stressors and lack adequate social support, which is even more distinct for mothers experiencing VLFS.

Portrait of Indonesian Family During One Year the COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of Factors Influencing Family Welfare and Resilience

This study aimed to capture aspects of Indonesian family life during a year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collected through online questionnaire survey, followed by 1048 participants with wide-ranged socio-economic status. The COVID-19 pandemic expands the vulnerability of families, brings economic pressure, symptoms of stress, disrupts food security and psychological welfare. However, the family tries to overcome and balance it by managing resources and increasing interaction and worship. They believe they can overcome problems, accompanied by the belief that the pandemic is a trial from the Almighty. An interesting finding was that during a pandemic, many families were stepping up their donations. The important findings of this study are the higher the stress level, the lower the social welfare, psychological welfare, and family resilience. Meanwhile, the social and psychological welfare of the family is positively influenced by the welfare of the child. Family resilience is directly and positively influenced by food coping strategies and social welfare, but is negatively affected by perceived stress symptoms. Economic pressures lead to higher social welfare which is manifested by better communication, decision making, donation, and family time management. The findings of this survey show the importance of families managing stressors and increasing family resilience.

The Orthodox and Unorthodox Food Acquisition Practices and Coping Strategies Used by Food Insecure Adults: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT Unorthodox food acquisition practices are increasing globally and to date, none have been documented. This review summarizes unorthodox as well as orthodox strategies used by food insecure adults. A database search confirmed the existence of coping strategies that ranged from legal (orthodox) to illegal and risky (unorthodox) practices used during episodes of food insecurity. The scoping review revealed the drivers of unorthodox food acquisition practices are neither fully understood, nor investigated to identify the tipping point at which this behavior becomes acceptable, or where we can intervene to preserve dignity and the human right to food.

Food Insecurity, Coping Strategy and Government Programmes During Covid-19: Evidence from Longitudinal Survey in Rural Bihar

Food Insecurity, Coping Strategy and Government Programmes During Covid-19: Evidence from Longitudinal Survey in Rural Bihar

Assessing Household’s Food Security in Patarasi Rural Municipality of Jumla District of Karnali Province, Nepal

Food security in mountain areas has always been a matter of concern. The purpose of this study is to examine the food security situation and coping strategies in rural households in a mountain area. Following the descriptive research approach, data is collected through implying household survey, semi-structured interview, and observation method. The food security situation is analyzed through four dimensions of food security: food availability, access to food, utilization of food, and stability. The result shows households depend mainly on markets as their main source of household food and households follow inadequate food consumption and the majority of households' food consumption patterns constitute either borderline or poor. Households apply short-term food consumption coping strategies such as lending money from friends or buying food on credit. The study recommends that farming households be supported in terms of both short-term and long-term strategies to improve food production and supply.

FOOD-RELATED COPING STRATEGIES ADOPTED BY SOME HOUSEHOLDS DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN NIGERIA

As part of the measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Nigeria during the early stages of the pandemic, a lockdown of movements within and from outside the country was declared by the federal government. This article presents findings on food-related coping strategies adopted during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. A cross sectional survey using an online based questionnaire received responses from 883 households regarding information on food consumption, health seeking behaviour and food coping strategies during the COVID-19 lockdown. Food Coping Strategy Index (FCSI) was computed from the data received based on standard methods. Analysis and presentation of data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. The key findings show that daily mealtimes generally reduced from an average of 3 to 2 times. The storage capacity of households showed an average of 2-week food stock of staples, and most of the respondents had started reducing either their usual portion sizes or frequency of meals in order to cope with food shortages. As regards health seeking behavior, older respondents were more likely to take prophylactic medication (p&lt;0.004) and there was a higher preference for fruits and Vitamin C as prophylactic items. A negative correlation between FCSI with mealtime during COVID-19 lockdown (p&lt;0.000) and monthly income (p&lt;0.000) was observed. The findings presented provide information for policy intervention in the areas of social safety nets and palliatives disbursement in the event of similar lockdown restrictions in the future.

Household\xa0food insecurity and coping strategies in Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundHunger and undernourishment are the main challenges of today’s world and 960 million people are hungry and undernourished. Food insecurity is an enduring, critical challenge in Ethiopia. Majority of the previous studies overlooked relevant determinant factors which affect the occurrence of food insecurity. This study aims to investigate household level food insecurity determinate factors and coping strategies used in the study area.MethodExplanatory and descriptive research was designed to assess household food insecurity and coping strategies in Analemmo district of southern Ethiopia. A multi-stage purposive sampling technique was used for the purpose of this study. Two hundred households were selected systematically following list of food insecure households. Econometric models were employed using binary logit model. Household calorie acquisition was calculated to categorize households into food secure and food insecurely status.ResultsThe survey result showed that 64% of the respondents were food insecure. Variables such as agro-ecology, age and education status, number of oxen, soil and water conservation, amount of credit, cultivated land size and receiving remittance were negatively but significantly (P < 0.05) affected households' food insecurity level. Female and young groups of the community were more food insecure as compared to others groups. The community was coping food shortage by relying on less preferred and less expensive food followed by participating in off-farm activities and borrowing food. Housesholds in the study area were utilizing less preferred foods to cope up food shortage and starvation.ConclusionEfforts of different developmental organizations should give due emphasis to household's wealth level, female-headed household and young and old-aged members of the community. Crop land production supported by modern agricultural technologies and information can reduce agricultural risks, and enhance productivity per unit land.

Food coping strategies among migrant labourers on cocoa farms in southern Ghana

Food coping strategies among migrant labourers on cocoa farms in southern Ghana

Food Security Status, Coping Strategies, and Health of Women’s Welfare Society Beneficiaries in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Facility-Based Study

ABSTRACT This study assessed the food security status of low-income women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in addition to their coping strategies, health, and well-being. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 113 women receiving food assistance from a women’s welfare society. Data were collected using in-person structured interviews. Overall, 50% of the women were food-insecure. Compared with food-secure women, food-insecure women were more likely to utilize many coping strategies. The mean score of coping strategies was significantly greater among food-insecure women, than that of food-secure women (21.0 ± 5.35 and 10.2 ± 5.78, respectively; p < .001). Food-insecure women were also more likely to report poor mental and overall health compared to food-secure women (p = .008 and p < .001, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in life satisfaction between both food security groups (p = .260). Low-income women may use several strategies to cope with food insecurity, which may affect mental and overall health. Further research is needed on the effect of food insecurity on health and well-being of low-income groups in Saudi Arabia. Qualitative data are also needed to better understand the reasons of food insecurity and preventing poor health outcomes among disadvantaged populations in Saudi Arabia.

Perceived Drivers of Food Insecurity and Coping Strategies of DACA-Eligible College Students–an Exploratory Study

ABSTRACT Eighteen Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)-eligible students at a Western US university completed a brief food insecurity survey. Eight participated in two focus groups to examine their food insecurity and associated coping strategies. Thirteen participants were food insecure. Drivers of food insecurity included ineligibility to secure federal aid, little time to prepare meals, and inadequate budgeting skills. Students coped with food insecurity at the personal level (e.g. rationing food) or receiving food from others (e.g. Relatives). The unique immigration status of DACA-eligible students contributes to their food insecurity, and policy change is needed to reduce this in higher education.

Burden of Food Insecurity, Sociodemographic Characteristics and Coping Practices of Households in Anambra State, South-eastern Nigeria

ABSTRACT This study examined food security status, associated factors and coping strategies employed by households in Anambra State, Nigeria. Mothers (n = 657) were administered a questionnaire adapted from the US Department of Agriculture household food security core module. Food insecurity in the past 12 months was reported in 61% of the households. Large households and those whose mothers had only primary or secondary education were more likely to be food insecure. The mothers coped mostly by limiting their own food intake to ensure their children had enough to eat (59.1%). Food insecurity is high in households in Anambra state.