Household Food Security Research Articles

WHO CONSUMES MORE BROKEN RICE GRAIN? EVIDENCE FROM RURAL AND URBAN CONSUMERS

The present study, in response to rising food prices, was conceived to find quantitative differences, particularly in broken rice consumption concerning the consumers' geographic (urban/rural) location. Four districts, namely Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Toba Tek Singh were selected as a case study from central Punjab. Cross- sectional data collected randomly from 250 consumers of broken rice (100 from Faisalabad and 50 from each of the remaining districts with equal proportion of rural and urban households) was used to run a descriptive and non-parametric test of Mann-Whitney U-Test, an alternative test to student t-test. Descriptive statistics show that the average monthly income of the households was Rs. 73251, with an average monthly income of Rs. 63911 and Rs. 82667 for rural and urban households, respectively. The overall total rice consumption per household (11.2 Kg/month) comprised almost half (51%) of broken rice (5.71 Kg/month). Total rice consumption was comparatively more in urban households despite a non-significant difference. The Mann-Whitney U-test finds a highly significant difference in the consumption of broken rice for rural and urban households. The test further clarifies that rural consumers consumed more broken rice (6.38 Kg/month) than urban households (5.04 Kg/month). Comparatively, more consumption of whole rice in urban settings and broken rice in rural areas seem in line with their respective higher and lower income levels. As these research findings have important policy implications for ensuring household food security, there is a need to further validate findings for appropriate national-level policy using large country level data sets. Keeping in view the role of rice similar to wheat flour in reducing food insecurity, studies finding the relationships between household income and consumption of rice, including locally called pona, adware, tota, or mix type categories of broken rice, are suggested to deeply understand the consumer preferences for broken rice market in the country.

Household Food Insecurity and COVID-19 Social Safety Nets in Cavite, Philippines

The COVID-19 restrictions have caused economic losses that affected food availability and accessibility, thereby compromising people’s lifestyles and putting the already existing poor households into severe food insecurity. As such, national government agencies and local government units in the Philippines provided emergency cash assistance and food aid as safety nets during the pandemic to help vulnerable households cope with the impending economic crisis and to improve food security in the country. This cross-sectional study assesses the association of social safety net programs with household food security (i.e., food secure, consistently food insecure, and newly food insecure) in Cavite province, Philippines. Findings show that being beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Social Amelioration Program are associated with being consistently and newly food insecure. Furthermore, households that obtained food from the community pantry, a volunteer-led movement during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic are also associated with food insecurity. On the other hand, the households that were provided with food packs, across different socioeconomic conditions, are not significantly associated with food insecurity. The study also affirms that households most vulnerable to food crises in the context of COVID-19 are those who are consistently food insecure and were already exposed to critical food and dietary deprivations before the onset of the pandemic. There is much to be done to improve the safety net programs in the country. The study results can add information and policy recommendations toward strengthening the services for vulnerable population groups to withstand short- and long-term food system disruptions and eventually build food-resilient households and communities.

Studi Ketahanan Pangan Rumah Tangga Petani Lahan Kering di Desa Sekotong Barat Kecamatan Sekotong Kabupaten Lombok Barat

Disparities in the availability and diversity of food consumption are caused, among other things, by regional conditions and land agro-ecosystems. The objectives of this research are 1) to determine the income and expenditure of dry land farming households and 2) to analyze the level of food security of dry land farming households in Sekotong Barat Village. The research method was carried out descriptively. The number of dry land farmers in Sekotong Barat Village is 180 households and 30 farming households were selected using simple random sampling. The results of the research show: 1) The household income of dry land farmers is IDR 42,511,641 per year which comes from farming income (on-farm) IDR 29,303,641, off-farm IDR 4,068,000, non-farm IDR 4,080,000, and income from other sources IDR 5,060,000 per year. 2) The total expenditure of dry land farming households is IDR 38,457,892 per year and allocated for food expenditure IDR 33,617,092 and non-food IDR 4,840,800 per year and 3) Level of food security Dry land farming households fall under the "Food Security" criteria. Then the level of food security in each household, 56.67% are classified as "Food Insecure" and 43.33% are classified as "Not Food Insecure.

The Impact of Food Insecurity on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between food security status and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This was a single-center cross-sectional cohort study of postpartum women in Indianapolis, IN. A validated 10 question Household Food Security Survey module was used to assess food security for patients who spoke English, Spanish, or Haitian-Creole. Correlating with the USDA definitions of food security, total scores were “high,” “marginal,” “low,” and “very low.” Scores were analyzed as inadequate (marginal, low, or very low) vs. adequate (high) food security. If a score fell within any category but “adequate” food security, patients were provided with information on community resources. Prenatal and postpartum data were abstracted via chart review, collecting: standard demographics, language, parity, diagnosis of diabetes, diagnosis of hypertensive disorder(s), pre-pregnancy weight, weight at time of delivery, BMI at time of delivery, gestational age at delivery, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score, and delivery mode. Neonatal variables included: weight and sex. The primary outcome was occurrence of gestational diabetes (GDM). These outcomes were compared between patients who had adequate vs. inadequate food security. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between food insecurity and each of the dichotomous outcomes. Linear regression was used to model the relationship between sex-specific birthweight z-scores and food insecurity. All adjusted models included language and maternal age. The Indiana University institutional review board approved the study (IRB# 14116). Results: Two hundred six surveys were completed from June 2022 through December 2022. Ninety-three participants (45.4%, 95% CI 38.4-52.4%) were categorized as inadequate food security. The incidences of marginal, low, and very low food security were similar with 31, 30, and 28 participants, respectively. Race/ethnicity and language were different between adequate and inadequate groups (p=0.006 and <0.001 respectively). The incidence of GDM was 7.9% and was not different for those with inadequate food security (OR 0.96 95% CI 0.33-2.68). Food insecurity was protective against delivery via C-section (aOR 0.50 95% CI 0.25-0.98). Food insecurity increases odds of EPDS > 9 (aOR 4.32 95% CI 1.41-16.2). Conclusions: Inadequate food security status is highly prevalent in our patient population and was associated with racial/ethnic minority status and non-English speaking populations. Inadequate food security was found to be associated with a decreased odds of cesarean delivery and higher odds of postpartum depression.

Predictors of persistent moderate and severe food insecurity in a longitudinal survey in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Household food insecurity (HFI) increased in Latin America by 9% between 2019 and 2020. Scant evidence shows who was unable to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to use a Machine Learning (ML) approach to identify consistent and influential predictors of persistent moderate or severe HFI over 2 years. We use a three-wave longitudinal telephone survey with a probabilistic sample representative of the Mexican population. With a response rate of 51.3 and 60.8% for the second and third waves, the final sample size consisted of 1,074 individuals. The primary outcome was persistent HFI, i.e., respondents who reported moderate or severe HFI in 2021 and 2022. Twelve income-related predictors were measured in 2020, including baseline HFI. We employed 6 supervised ML algorithms to cross-validate findings in models, examined its precision with 4 standard performance indicators to assess precision, and used SHAP values (Shapley Additive exPlanations) to identify influential predictors in each model. Prevalence of persistent moderate/severe HFI in 2021 and 2022 was 8.8%. Models with only a HFI 2020 baseline measure were used as a reference for comparisons; they had an accuracy of 0.79, a Cohen's Kappa of 0.57, a sensitivity of 0.68, and a specificity of 0.88. When HFI was substituted by the suite of socioeconomic indicators, accuracy ranged from 0.70 to 0.84, Cohen's Kappa from 0.40 to 0.67, sensitivity from 0.86 to 0.90, and specificity from 0.75 to 0.82. The best performing models included baseline HFI and socioeconomic indicators; they had an accuracy between 0.81 and 0.92, a Cohen's Kappa between 0.61 and 0.85, a sensitivity from 0.74 to 0.95, and a specificity from 0.85 to 0.92. Influential and consistent predictors across the algorithms were baseline HFI, socioeconomic status (SES), adoption of financial coping strategies, and receiving government support. Persistent HFI can be a relevant indicator to identify households that are less responsive to food security policies. These households should be prioritized for innovative government support and monitored to assess changes. Forecasting systems of HFI can be improved with longitudinal designs including baseline measures of HFI and socioeconomic predictors.

Prevalence and socio-economic determinants of growth and developmental delays among Iranian children aged under five years: A cross sectional study

BackgroundThe main cause of growth and development delays remains unknown, but it can occur as an interaction between genetic, environmental, and socio-economic factors.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and social determinants of growth and developmental delays among children aged under five years in Qazvin, Iran.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2019 to December 2020 with participation of 1800 mothers with children aged 4–60 months who were referred to comprehensive health centers in Qazvin city, Iran. Structural and intermediate social determinants of health were assessed including: parents and children socio-demographic characteristics, families’ living and economic status, parents’ behavioral factors, household food security, mother’s general health, and perceived social support. Children’s growth was assessed based on their anthropometric assessment and their development was assessed using their age-specific Ages and Stages Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models using SPSS software version 24 and Stata version 14.ResultsThe prevalence of developmental problems in each domain were 4.28% for personal and social delay, 5.72% for gross motor delay, 6.5% for communication delay, 6.72% for fine motor delay, and 8% for problem-solving delay. The prevalence of weight growth delays was 13.56% and height growth delays was 4.66%. Communication, gross motor, and problem-solving delays were higher among children whose fathers’ smoked cigarettes. Fine motor delays were lower among mothers with education status of high school diploma and university degree vs. the under diploma group. Personal and social delay was significantly higher among families with fair economic status and lower among children when their fathers were employed (vs. unemployed). Weight and height growth delays were higher among mothers who had experienced pregnancy complications and household food insecure families, respectively.ConclusionThere are different predictors of growth and developmental delay problems among Iranian children aged under five years including fathers’ smoking, families’ economic status, and household food insecurity as well as history of mothers’ pregnancy complications. The present study’s findings can be used to screen for at-risk of growth and developmental delays among children and could help in designing and implementation of timely interventions.

Benefits and barriers to the adoption of climate‐smart agriculture practices in West Africa: A systematic review

AbstractClimate‐smart agriculture (CSA) serves as a credible mechanism to simultaneously address food security, climate change, and agricultural productivity. Despite the widespread adoption of CSA approaches across West Africa, many countries have still not been able to resolve the problems of food insecurity and rural poverty. This systematic review evaluates published evidence on the types of CSA practices, the determinants and benefits of adoption, and the barriers confronting the adoption of CSA practices across West Africa, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses statement checklist. Articles published in English from January 2010 to March 2023 investigating the benefits of and barriers to the adoption of CSA practices in West Africa were retrieved from ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools for use in systematic reviews. The themes emerging from the articles were extracted, and a summary was provided to illustrate each theme. After applying the eligibility criteria, 12 articles were included in the final review. The studies reviewed revealed that farmers used more knowledge‐, water‐, carbon‐, and nitrogen‐smart practices, compared to weather‐ and energy‐smart practices. Across the reviewed papers, factors such as the education level of farmers, age, gender, household size, membership of a social group, agricultural extension services, and access to credit/financial resources influenced CSA adoption. The reviewed studies identified that farmers who used CSA practices reported benefits such as improved soil fertility, higher yield, improved household income, climate resilience (such as overcoming the effects of drought and extreme temperatures), and food security. Some farmers adopted CSA practices to reduce the effect of droughts and high temperatures on their crops, and thus increase their resilience to climate variability and change. However, farmers’ adoption is confronted with challenges related to the technicality of some CSA practices, high cost of labor for CSA implementation, lack of credit and government support, limited access to weather and climate information, limited information about CSA options, high illiteracy level of smallholder farmers, and incompatibility of some practices with farmers’ crop of interest. Our findings show that most CSA practices in the studies we reviewed are not well targeted to meet farmers’ crop of interest, and that governments should provide more practical training to enhance farmers’ understanding of CSA practices, especially those related to weather‐ and energy‐smart initiatives. There should also be more robust financial and institutional support to improve the adoption and usage of CSA practices at all levels. Additionally, socio‐cultural factors such as values, customs, and beliefs should be properly integrated into CSA plans as they influence the adoption of CSA practices.

Welfare Effects of Food Tariff Changes on Urban and Rural Households

This study aims to analyze the effects of food tariff changes on the welfare of urban and rural households in Iran. The study considers the role of households as consumers, producers, and workers, as well as the market structure over the past fifteen years. Firstly, the study estimated the consumption behavior for the main food groups using the QUAIDS and pseudo-panel data. Then, the extent of tariff pass-through to domestic food prices was determined, and after that, price-wage elasticity and wage changes as a result of tariff changes were estimated. Finally, it calculated the effect of tariff changes on household purchasing power and income through an indirect utility function to get welfare effects. The results indicate that tariff pass-through to food prices is incomplete and varies between urban and rural areas. The study has found that skilled labor is more sensitive to food tariff reductions than unskilled labor, particularly in rural areas. The results reveal that tariff changes positively affect urban households' welfare, while rural households experience a loss due to these changes. Urban areas benefit from reduced household expenditure, while food prices are increasing in rural areas due to weak or absent tariff pass-through. Although these increases favor producers, they do not compensate for the loss suffered by consumers, resulting in reduced welfare in rural areas. The findings show that the effects of tariff changes vary across regions, not only between urban and rural areas but also among different provinces. Furthermore, the tariff reductions have been a boon for consumers, but a bane for producers, ultimately harming production in the long term. The findings suggest that regional markets may be either sufficient or insufficient to convert pass-through-the-border prices into domestic prices. Therefore, policymakers can use this study as a useful guide to reform the regional market structure to raise household welfare, food security, and income inequality.

Association of Household Food Insecurity with Stunting and Underweight Among Iranian Children Aged 2 - 5 Years old

Background: Although previous literature has assessed the association of household food insecurity with nutritional outcomes among children, the findings are inconsistent across different study populations. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association of household food insecurity with nutritional outcomes among children residing in Khalkhal city, Iran. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 Iranian children aged 2 - 5 years who visited urban and rural health care centers between November 2021 and March 2022. Subjects were included in the survey using multi-stage cluster sampling. Household food security status was assessed using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 18-item food security questionnaire. Odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for stunting according to the food insecurity score were estimated using multivariable logistic regression in three models. Results: In the present study, 39% of participants had food security, while the prevalence of food insecurity without hunger, food insecurity with moderate hunger, and food insecurity with severe hunger were 22.3%, 23%, and 15.7%, respectively. In all models, both categorized and continuous food insecurity scores correlated negatively with weight (P for all < 0.001). Food insecurity did not predict the risk of stunting in all subjects before and after adjustment (Model 1: OR (CI) = 1.008 (0.96-1.05), P = 0.72; Model 2: OR (CI) = 1.01 (0.96 - 1.05), P = 0.65; Model 3: OR (CI) = 0.98 (0.92-1.04), P = 0.53). Conclusions: In the current study, we found that Iranian families with the lowest income had the highest food insecurity scores. Household food insecurity was negatively correlated with weight status among children aged 2 - 5 years.

Early impact of a new food store intervention on health-related outcomes

This study investigated the early impact of a community-based food intervention, the Good Food Junction (GFJ), a full-service grocery store (September 2012 – January 2016) in a former food desert in Saskatoon, Canada. The hypothesis tested was that frequent shopping at the GFJ improved food security and selected health-related outcomes among shoppers, and the impact was moderated by socioeconomic factors. Longitudinal data were collected from 156 GFJ shoppers, on three occasions: 12-, 18-, and 24-months post-opening. Participants were grouped into three categories based on the frequency of shopping at the GFJ: low, moderate, and high. A generalized estimating equations approach was used for model building; moderating effects were tested. Participants were predominantly female, Indigenous, low-income, and had high school or some post-secondary education. The GFJ use was associated with household food security (OR for high and moderate frequency shoppers reporting less than a high school education were 1.81 and 1.06, respectively), and mental health (OR for high and moderate frequency shoppers reporting high income were 2.82 and 0.87, respectively) exhibiting a dose-response relationship, and indicated that these outcomes were significantly moderated by participants’ socioeconomic factors. Shopping at the GFJ had a positive effect on food security and mental health, but to varying levels for those with low incomes, with less than high school or high school or better levels of education.

Can farmer organization membership improve household food security and nutrition? Evidence from Northern Ghana

AbstractWe examine the impact of farmer organization (FO) membership on food and nutrition security among rural rice farmers, using cross‐sectional data from a household survey from Ghana. We employ an endogenous switching regression (ESR) model to account for selection bias from observed and unobserved factors. Our findings show that participation in FOs significantly increases household dietary diversity by 10.56% and reduces food insecurity by 9.7%. The residualized quantile regression model results are consistent with the ESR model across both outcome variables. Policymakers should consider promoting FO membership as a strategy to enhance food and nutrition security among smallholders in developing countries.

Analyzing variability in urban energy poverty: A stochastic modeling and Monte Carlo simulation approach

Urban energy poverty remains a critical challenge affecting millions worldwide, with significant implications for socio-economic development and sustainability. This study employs Monte Carlo simulations to analyze the variability in energy poverty, as measured by the Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI). Through this approach, we explored how different socio-economic predictors affect MEPI scores across five scenarios: economic growth and diversification, energy transition and technological innovation, climate change impacts and vulnerability, policy intervention and social safety nets, and stagnation and rising inequality. The sensitivity analysis revealed that household income, size, and food security are paramount in influencing urban energy poverty levels. Scenarios involving economic growth and technological innovation demonstrated positive impacts on reducing energy poverty, while scenarios of climate change and economic stagnation highlighted the vulnerabilities and widening disparities within populations. The results suggest that to effectively alleviate urban energy poverty, policy interventions must be comprehensive, targeting the identified influential factors. The study emphasizes the need for targeted policy interventions on social safety nets to alleviate energy poverty.

HUBUNGAN KETAHANAN PANGAN RUMAH TANGGA DENGAN STUNTING DI KECAMATAN MAULAFA, KOTA KUPANG.

The objectives of this study were: (I) To determine the condition of household food security with stunting in Maulafa Sub-district, Kupang City. (II) To determine the relationship between household food security and stunting in Maulafa Sub-district, Kupang City (III) To determine the distribution pattern of stunting based on household food security in Maulafa Sub-district, Kupang City. This type of research is quantitative research. The subjects in this study amounted to 100 toddlers consisting of 50 stunted toddlers and 50 non-stunted toddlers. Data analysis techniques used are validity test, reliability test, univariate test, bivariate test with the help of spss and nearest neighbor analysis for distribution patterns with the help of ArcGis 10.2 software. The results of the calculation of the distribution pattern of household food security with stunting in Maulafa District are clustered, this shows that the distance between one location and another tends to cluster in a certain area. The bivariate test results show that the p-value significance value is 0.000 which is smaller than 0.05. Based on the results of the analysis, it is concluded that there is a significant relationship between household food security and the incidence of stunting. The results of the test of the relationship between household food security and the incidence of stunting - 0.466 which is in a moderate correlation with a negative relationship. So it can be interpreted that the higher the household food security, the lower the incidence of stunting.

Consumption Expenditure Patterns and Food Security Dynamics in Nigeria

Food insecurity remains a critical issue globally, as highlighted by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2). In 2023, nearly 25 million Nigerians faced food insecurity due to factors like insurgency affecting agricultural activities. This, therefore, worsens the food insecurity in the country. Thus, this study investigates the dynamics between household consumption expenditure patterns and food security in Nigeria over a decade (2010-2019). This was done by analysing four waves of secondary panel data of 4,000 nationally representative households of the Nigeria General Household Survey GHS - Panel collected by the National Bureau of Statistics in four waves over ten years from 2010 to 2019. Analytical tools used were descriptive statistics and the Food Security Index. The results of the consumption patterns of the respondents showed that the majority of the respondents were in the lowest band of per capita total expenditure and sectoral expenditures. The ratio of food secure to food insecure averages around 30% to 70% with a food security (surplus) index of 1.26 and food insecurity (shortfall) index of 0.53. Nigeria was food insecure during the period. The analysis concludes that boosting agricultural productivity, improving infrastructure, and addressing corruption are essential to enhance food security in Nigeria. The government is recommended to prioritize long-term strategies for food production, support vulnerable households, and leverage technological advancements to increase agricultural productivity. This study underscores the need for comprehensive policies to address the multifaceted challenges of food insecurity in Nigeria.

Household food insecurity predictors and coping strategies in Basketo Special District, Southern Ethiopia: using the double hurdle model

Household food insecurity predictors and coping strategies in Basketo Special District, Southern Ethiopia: using the double hurdle model

Food Insecurity and Community-Based Food Resources Among Caregivers of Hospitalized Children.

Children's hospitals are implementing interventions to connect families to community-based resources. This study describes food insecurity (FI) and food resource knowledge, need, and use among families with a hospitalized child. Between November 2020 and June 2022, 637 caregivers of hospitalized children in an urban 42-ZIP-code area were surveyed as part of a randomized controlled trial. The United States Department of Agriculture 18-item Household Food Security Survey was used to evaluate 12-month food security (food secure [score of 0=FS]; marginally secure [1-2=MFS]; insecure [3-18=FI]). Food resource knowledge, need, and use were described by food security status and examined using Cochran-Armitage tests. The distribution of local resources was obtained from a database and mapped by ZIP code. Comparing FI (35.0%) with MFS (17.6%) and FS (47.4%) groups, the rates of resource knowledge were lower (70.2% vs 78.5%, 80.5%), and the rates of need (55.1% vs 30.6%, 14.2%) and use (55.3% vs 51.4%, 40.8%) were higher. Rates of food resource knowledge increased linearly with increasing food security (FI to MFS to FS; P = .008), whereas the rates of resource need (P < .001) and use (P = .001) decreased with increasing food security. There were 311 community-based organizations across 36 ZIP codes with participants (range/ZIP code = 0-20, median = 8). Half of families with a hospitalized child experienced FI or MFS. Although families exhibited high food resource knowledge, nearly half of families with FI had unmet food needs or had never used resources.

Household food and water insecurity and its association with diarrhoea, respiratory illness, and stunting in Ecuadorian children under 5 years.

Household food and water insecurity has been previously associated with adverse health consequences in children. However, these relationships are understudied in middle-income Latin American populations such as in Ecuador, where a high prevalence of food and water insecurity has been reported. Using cross-sectional data from 2018 Ecuadorian National Health and Nutrition Survey, we examined the association of household food insecurity (HFI), household water insecurity (HWI), and concurrent HFI-HWI with diarrhoea, respiratory illness (RI), and stunting in 20,510 children aged ≤59 months. HFI was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. HWI was defined when households responded negatively to one or more of four drinking water indicators. Maternal caregivers reported on child diarrhoea and RI episodes during the previous 2 weeks. Measured length or height was used to assess stunting. We constructed log-binomial regression models to estimate the associations of HFI, HWI, and concurrent HFI-HWI with child outcomes. Moderate-severe HFI was associated with a higher prevalence of diarrhoea (PR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.63) and RI (PR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.47), HWI with a higher prevalence of RI (PR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.22), and concurrent HFI-HWI with a higher prevalence of diarrhoea (PR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.62) and RI (PR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.29, 1.62). Stunting was not associated with HFI, HWI nor concurrent HFI-HWI. These findings suggest that HFI and HWI can independently and jointly act to negatively affect children's health. Policies and interventions aimed at alleviating both food and water insecurity are needed to bring sustained health improvements in Ecuadorian children.

Effect of coping strategies on household food insecurity in Pakistan amid global economic crisis

AbstractFood insecurity tends to be more prevalent amid crises. Several households employ various coping strategies to soften the crisis's financial impact and access adequate food for consumption. This study investigates the impact of various coping strategies on household food insecurity in Pakistan. The study endeavours to identify a more effective coping strategy for reducing food insecurity amid an economic crisis. The study uses nationally represented data surveyed to ‘evaluate the socio‐economic impact of a pandemic on the well‐being of people’. We applied the Ordered Logit and Inverse Probability Weighting model to estimate the aftermath of coping strategies on food insecurity levels. The study's findings suggest that a household that used coping strategies amid crisis is a vulnerable household and more likely to have food insecurity status. Moreover, the study suggests that the coping strategies’ extent (quantity) is positively associated with the likelihood of food insecurity. Finally, the study's aftermath suggests that amongst the different coping strategies, the erosive coping strategy has a lower likelihood of incidence of food insecurity than other strategies. However, within the erosive coping strategies, a household sold real estate asset has less likelihood of being food insecure than other erosive coping strategies. Moreover, spending savings or investments and liquidating real estate are crucial in determining the household's food security status amid the crisis. The study's key findings put forth some potential policy implications related to strategies that can hedge against the crisis and promote resilience in the face of food insecurity.

Short- and medium-term impacts of small-scale vegetable support on food security: evidence from Syria

Small-scale agricultural and horticultural interventions play a critical role in improving nutrition and food security of vulnerable households in peaceful settings. However, scant rigorous evidence exists on the impacts and sustainability of such interventions in conflict settings. In this paper, we address this knowledge gap by analyzing the short- and medium-term impacts of a small-scale vegetable input support program involving asset transfers on food security and diets in war-time Syria. We use longitudinal panel household survey data from a quasi-experimental study collected at three rounds: before, one year, and two years after the horticultural intervention ended. We use propensity score matching and fixed-effect regression models to estimate the average treatment effects on the treated. We find that the vegetable support significantly improves food security by 21% and 19% in the short- and medium-term, respectively. More specifically, we find that the intervention significantly increased the consumption of nutrient-rich food groups such as vegetables, root tubers, fruits, eggs, pulses and nuts, milk, and oil and fats. Moreover, we find that the intervention reduces in the short-term the use of harmful coping strategies by 17%. However, this effect dissipates two years after the end of the intervention. The findings underscore the importance of small-scale vegetable support in addressing food insecurity in protracted conflict settings.

Mid-Life Household Food Insecurity and Subsequent Memory Function and Rate of Decline in Rural South Africa, 2004-2022.

We aimed to investigate mid-life food insecurity over time in relation to subsequent memory function and rate of decline in Agincourt, rural South Africa. Data from the longitudinal Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System (Agincourt HDSS) were linked to the population-representative Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI). Food insecurity (yes vs. no) and food insecurity intensity (never/rarely/sometimes vs. often/very often) in the past month were assessed every 3 years from 2004 to 2013 in Agincourt HDSS. Cumulative exposure to each food insecurity measure was operationalized as 0, 1, and ≥2 time points. Episodic memory was assessed from 2014/15 to 2021/22 in HAALSI. Mixed-effects linear regression models were fitted to investigate the associations of each food insecurity measure with memory function and rate of decline over time. A total of 3,186 participants (mean age [SD] in 2004: 53 [12.87]; range: 30-96) were included and 1,173 (36%) participants experienced food insecurity in 2004, while this figure decreased to 490 (15%) in 2007, 489 (15%) in 2010, and 150 (5%) in 2013. Experiencing food insecurity at one time point (vs. never) from 2004 to 2013 was associated with lower baseline memory function (β = -0.095; 95% CI: -0.159 to -0.032) in 2014/15 but not rate of memory decline. Higher intensity of food insecurity at ≥2 time points (vs. never) was associated with lower baseline memory function (β = -0.154, 95% CI: -0.338 to 0.028), although the estimate was imprecise. Other frequencies of food insecurity and food insecurity intensity were not associated with memory function or decline in the fully adjusted models. In this setting, mid-life food insecurity may be a risk factor for lower later-life memory function, but not decline.