Household Food Security Research Articles

Challenges With School Meal Provisions in K-12 Public Schools: Findings From the National School COVID-19 Prevention Study.

School meals play a vital role in supporting student health. Access to school meals was disrupted during COVID-19-related school closures, impacting student nutritional intake and household food insecurity. Data from the National School COVID-19 Prevention Study Survey and school staff focus groups were used to examine challenges to school meal provision in K-12 public schools. Data were analyzed using R and MAXQDA. Survey data indicated that most schools served breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria or classroom during the 2021-2022 school year. City schools were less likely to experience challenges with receiving the foods and supplies needed for school meal programs. Qualitative data revealed that school meal participation increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, however schools encountered challenges when implementing the program including staff shortages and supply chain issues. Findings from this study can help strengthen the K-12 school meal system to equitably serve students in future public health emergencies.

Nutritional status, food security and other correlates among adult tuberculosis patients in a block of Murshidabad district, West Bengal.

Tuberculosis (TB) and malnutrition are epidemiologically interrelated two major public health problems in India. Food security also influences nutritional status. This aspect needs evaluation in diverse geographical areas. This study aimed to assess the level of food security, nutritional status and correlates among adult TB patients in a block of Murshidabad, West Bengal. This cross-sectional study was undertaken in the Nabagram block of Murshidabad district during April-July 2023. All adult (≥18 years) patients registered under the Tuberculosis Unit of the block during a reference period of 6 months (October 2022-March 2023) were considered study subjects. Eighty such eligible participants recruited randomly were interviewed with a pre-designed schedule for socio-demographic and programmatic characteristics. Household food security was measured using a validated U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and nutritional status was determined based on body mass index. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for analysis. Among 80 TB patients, 51% were underweight and 20% were severely underweight. The majority (90%) of them had high or marginal food security, and 10% had low or very low food security. On multivariable logistic regression, Hindu religion (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 6.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.12-29.39), presence of any chronic morbidity (AOR: 11.61, 95%CI: 2.71-49.78) and receipt of dietary counselling by a health worker (AOR: 7.25, 95%CI: 1.22-43.13) appeared as predictors of underweight. Underweight among TB patients is quite prevalent in the area, and few programmatic interventions are influencing factors. This underscores the importance of nutritional counselling services and the universal provision of Poshan benefits.

Sleep duration, overweight status, and the modifying role of food insecurity in a sample of 10- to 14-year-old Mexican early adolescents

ObjectivesShort sleep duration has been associated with an increased risk of childhood overweight and obesity in high-income countries, but data from low- and middle-income countries are scarce. Independently, short sleep and food insecurity may increase the risk of overweight/obesity, but it is unknown whether they concurrently affect it. MethodsWe included 3350 adolescents aged 10-14 from the 2012 and 2016 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey. Short sleep was categorized as less than 9 hours for ages 10-12 and less than 8 hours for ages 13-14. Overweight/obesity was assessed via anthropometry. Modified Poisson regression models assessed prevalence ratios between short sleep and overweight, examining effect modification by food security status. Results86% met sleep duration recommendations. Short sleep was associated with an increased prevalence of overweight/obesity (prevalence ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05, 1.31). Multiplicative interaction was found between low and very low food security status and short sleep: adolescents in low food secure households with short sleep had 1.38 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.75) times the prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to adequate sleepers. Very low food secure households had 1.16 (95% CI: 1.14, 1.31) times the prevalence compared to adequate sleepers. This association was not significant in fully or marginally food secure households. ConclusionsShort sleep is associated with an increased obesity risk among Mexican adolescents 10-14years, particularly in the context of low and very low food security. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both sleep hygiene and food security in strategies to reduce obesity risk.

A system dynamics modelling assessment of water-energy-food resource demand futures at the city scale: Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

Understanding future demands of water, energy, and food (WEF) resources is essential to achieve sustainable management of these resources. Based on a survey of 90 households, this study provides an analysis of household water, energy, and food security for the city of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, where there is a lack of any such assessment. Water supply is largely unimproved. Electricity supply is fairly reliable in some parts of the city, but not others. Most residents rely on charcoal burning for food preparation. Dietary Diversity Scores are low indicating stable, but low food security. Data collected were used to develop an integrated WEF system dynamics model that was applied to simulate household-level resource demand. To assess future resources demand, four scenarios developed by the Global Scenario Group were simulated. Findings reveal that the 'Great Transition' scenario exerts lower impact on resources demand, representing the most likely trajectory to achieve sustainable socio-economic development and management. However, achieving the conditions required for a ‘Great Transition’ could be challenging in Goma, which is characterised by low incomes, poor access to resources, and the threat of armed conflict. To achieve greater efficiency in resources utilisation and to prepare for the future, a number of recommendations are made, including energy supply diversification, altered agricultural practices to diversify diets, and expansion and improvement of water supply infrastructure. This work provides a basis for similar assessments in DRC and central Africa, highlighting the need for integrated resources management and assessment for regional opportunities toward sustainable development.

Role of Agricultural Extension Services (AES) on Farm Productivity and Household Food Security in Tanzania

Abstract This study explores the effects of agricultural extension services on farm productivity and food security in Tanzania using data from the 2019/20 National Sample Census of Agriculture. The study used an Ordinary Least Square and Tobit regression models to examine the effects of agricultural extension services on agricultural productivity and food security measured in harvest per acre and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) respectively. The findings highlight a significant positive correlation between using agricultural extension services and increased farm productivity and food security. These results emphasize substantial policy implications suggesting a strategic focus on enhancing the accessibility and effectiveness of extension services particularly among smallholder farmers. Furthermore, the government and stakeholders need to prioritize and invest in expanding extension services to smallholder farmers. This involves improving service quality to address the specific needs of smallholder farmers. Such approaches may contribute to improved farm productivity and food security in Tanzania.

Issues and Challenges with Empowerment of Tribal Women in India: A Forest-Based Study

The forest-based resources play significant importance in the lives of tribal women and their households in India. The livelihood of the tribal families is mainly dependent on Non-wood Forest Products (NWFP). These include the collection of kendu leaves for making tobacco, mahua flowers, mahua seeds, mushrooms, tamarind, and wild brooms. The tribal women contribute to a great extent in the collection and processing of NWFP along with the sale of the final products. Due to the existence of the forest, the food and financial security of the tribal households has been secured to a great extent. Sadly, these tribal women receive less compensation through dishonest middlemen due to illiteracy. Therefore, these indigenous women must enhance their skills to increase their income. The current article intends to investigate the amount of women's employment concerning forest products and the many fields in which these women might develop their skills to increase their income and empower their family.

The Effect of Intra-household Mobile Phone Use on Household Food and Nutrition Security in Tanzania

The Effect of Intra-household Mobile Phone Use on Household Food and Nutrition Security in Tanzania

Impact of a school-based food assistance program on household food insecurity in Greece, 2012–2019: a multi-year evaluation of the DIATROFI program

BackgroundChildhood food insecurity can persist among low socioeconomic areas in high-income countries. Universal Free School Meal (UFSM) programs are designed to respond to this pressing issue. This study aimed to conduct a multi-year evaluation of the DIATROFI Program’s impact on household food insecurity in Greece. MethodsThis study utilized data from 18,716 students (618 kindergarten to high schools), from low socioeconomic areas participating in the school-level UFSM Program DIATROFI between 2012 and 2019. Parents of students completed annual baseline and follow-up paper-based self-completed questionnaires. The primary outcome was household food insecurity, measured using the Food Security Survey Module (FSSM) at both questionnaires, and evaluated through mixed linear and logistic regression models with repeated measurements. FindingsStudents’ median age was 9 years old (Interquartile range (IQR): 6·5, 12·0), 51·6% (n=9,658) were girls, and 82·2% (n=15,382) lived in low/medium socioeconomic affluence households. Households with food insecurity reduced from 51·5% (n=9,630) to 47·6% (n=8,901) after one school year. Food insecurity score declined steadily for four years of consecutive participation, compared to baseline score (one-year b:–0·26; 95% Confidence Interval (CI):–0·30, –0·22, and four-year –1·28; –1·53, –1·03). The likelihood of retaining food insecure status reduced from 17% after one-year participation (Odds Ratio (OR): 0·83; 95% CI: 0·79, 0·87) to 36% after four-year participation (0·64; 0·49, 0·82). The Program’s impact on household food insecurity alleviation was greater among households with low parental education and low socioeconomic affluence. InterpretationThe DIATROFI Program effectively improved household food security during and after the Greek socioeconomic crisis. School-level UFSM programs targeting underprivileged students can improve household food insecurity, with a more pronounced effect with increased years of participation, and among economically disadvantaged households. FundingThe DIATROFI Program was funded through various national and private organizations, including national prefecture authorities, Greek payment authorities, philanthropic/charitable organizations, and private companies.

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Intakes of Ultraprocessed and Minimally Processed Foods in Nationally Representative Samples of Adults in Canada: An Analysis of Trends between 2004 and 2015

BackgroundIndividuals with a lower socioeconomic position (SEP) often have higher intakes of ultraprocessed food (UPF) and lower intakes of minimally processed food (MPF); however, studies have not examined trends in absolute and relative gaps and gradients in UPF and MPF intake using multiple indicators of SEP. ObjectivesWe examined within-year absolute and relative gaps and gradients in UPF and MPF intake and trends between 2004 and 2015 according to 6 indicators of SEP among nationally representative samples of adults in Canada. MethodsAdults (≥18 y) in the Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition 2004 (n = 20,880) or 2015 (n = 13,970) reported SEP (individual and household education, household income adequacy, household food insecurity, neighborhood material and social deprivation) and completed a 24-h dietary recall. Multivariable linear regression assessed within-year absolute and relative gaps and gradients in the proportion of energy from UPF and MPF and trends between 2004 and 2015. ResultsThe largest and most consistent within-year inequities in UPF and MPF intake were for individual and household educational attainment. Overall and among males, higher SEP groups had more favorable intakes over time based on trends in absolute and relative gaps and gradients in UPF and MPF intake by household food insecurity [for example, the absolute gap in UPF intake declined from −1.2% (95% confidence interval: −5.3%, 2.9%) to −7.9% of energy (95% confidence interval: −11.2%, −4.5%) in the overall population]. Overall and among males, lower SEP groups had more favorable intakes over time based on trends in absolute and relative gaps in UPF and MPF intake by neighborhood material deprivation. ConclusionsSocioeconomic inequalities in UPF and MPF intake were most pronounced for individual and household education. Between 2004 and 2015, several inequalities in UPF and MPF intake emerged according to household food insecurity (favoring higher SEP groups) and neighborhood material deprivation (favoring lower SEP groups).

Working but hungry: precarious employment and household food insecurity in Ghana

Working but hungry: precarious employment and household food insecurity in Ghana

Do Agricultural stakeholder panels enhance post-harvest loss reduction? Evidence from Malawi

Post-harvest loss significantly affects food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and elsewhere across developing countries. Weak institutional factors like ineffective agricultural extension services in rural communities can exacerbate such problems among smallholder farmers in SSA and other developing countries. Therefore, international development policies have prioritized strengthening rural extension systems to enhance access to effective extension services and thereby enhance food security outcomes like ineffective agriculturalpost-harvest loss reduction among rural households. As such, the US-Agency for International Development supported the Strengthening Agricultural and Nutrition Extension program in Malawi from 2015 to 2021 to improve access to rural extension services by promoting Agricultural Stakeholder Panels (ASPs)—platforms designed to enhance farmer interaction with local extension agents in rural communities and thereby enhance improved access to quality extension services in rural areas. The ASP approach can reduce post-harvest losses for major crops, such as maize. However, rigorous analyses of the effects of ASPs on post-harvest loss reduction remain limited. To address this knowledge gap, we apply recursive bivariate probit regression to primary survey data from 2134 households in Malawi to estimate the effects of the ASP approach on post-harvest loss reduction in 2018. The results show that ASPs reduced post-harvest losses among households by 53%, and a crucial outcome that can improve household food security. The result demonstrates that policies that strengthen rural extension systems can contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals on hunger and food security in rural Malawi and similar contexts.

Food security effects of forest sector participation in rural Liberia

Forests can help rural households cope with food insecurity challenges in the face of climate change while also sequestering carbon and advancing other sustainability objectives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As such, participation in the forestry sector can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially on hunger and food security (SDG 2) in forest rich, but economically poor areas of LMICs. However, analysis of the effects of forest sector participation on food security in such contexts remain limited. Here we estimate the effects of participation in forest-based activities like collection and processing of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) on household food security in Liberia, the most forested country in West Africa. We applied endogenous switching poisson regression to data from 1408 households living in the proximity of forests included in Liberia’s 2019 national household forest survey to estimate the effect of forest sector participation on food security (in terms of reduction in the number of months households reportedly had insufficient food). Results show that forest-sector participation reduced the number of months households had insufficient food by 84% (about 2.7 months). Heterogeneity analyses show that NTFPs affected food security by 80% (about 2.5 months) compared to timber and wood products, which had a 66% effect size (about 2.1 months) on average. Our results provide new, national-scale evidence on the role of forests in enhancing food security in Liberia and suggest the importance of forest sector participation for food security and achieving SDG 2 more generally.

The impact of forage condition on household food security in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia

We studied the causal link between forage condition and food security in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia and probed the mechanisms through which the effects occur. The study utilized weekly panel survey data collected over a period of 94 weeks (March 2021–December 2022) from drought-prone pastoral regions and estimated two-stage least squares instrumental variables regression to assess causal impacts. We found that an increase in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) – our proxy for forage condition – by 10% significantly reduced the likelihood of a household experiencing food insecurity by 12 percentage points. The main mechanisms through which improved forage condition increased food security were livestock productivity enhancement, reduced prices of basic food commodities (cereals, legumes, and vegetables), and utilization of better coping strategies by households. These findings suggest the need for interventions and initiatives aimed at boosting livestock productivity and reducing vulnerability to drought-induced poor forage conditions. Efforts focused on the monitoring of forage conditions and supporting market development for livestock feed are important for addressing the adverse impacts of drought and deteriorating forage conditions in the horn of Africa. Furthermore, the monitoring of drought conditions and shocks using high-frequency data has the potential for providing early warning and informing anticipatory action.

Mapping the spatial distribution of household food insecurity in Nigeria

Mapping the spatial distribution of household food insecurity in Nigeria

Women, income use and nutrition quality: effects of women’s decision-making in rural households in Cameroon

BackgroundWomen remain central to household food and nutrition security. However, they continue to face several constraints with respect to access, control and use of credit and income. There is theoretical assertion that increasing women's decision-making authority over family income increases spending and leads to gains in nutrition. However, empirical evidence on the links between rural women's income control and household food and nutrition security is inadequate, especially for a developing country, such as Cameroon.MethodologyWe employ the food consumption score nutrition quality analysis, the income domain of the Abbreviated Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index and the Partial Least Square Structural Equations Modelling to examine data collected from 600 rural households in the West region of Cameroon to establish the effects of women’s control over income use on household nutrition quality. To ensure the reliability of our findings, additional tests such as the Confirmatory Tetrad Analysis, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test with Lilliefors correction, and the Finite Mixture PLS approach are employed.ResultsFrom the analyses, we observed that a significant percentage of households have poor nutritional quality, particularly in terms of iron-rich food consumption. Women's control over income use remains low and varies based on the source of income. The analyses show that women's decision-making concerning income use and women's perception of their decision-making ability regarding income use and expenditure are positively associated with higher nutritional quality for the household. In addition, we establish that women's perceptions of their ability to make decisions about income use have a positive direct and total effect on nutrition quality, but a negative indirect effect on the latter, with the direct positive effect outweighing the indirect effect.ConclusionsInadequate consumption of iron-rich foods is pervasive for most households and there is limited control over income used for the majority of women in the study area. Enhancing women’s control over income use has significant implications for household nutrition quality. Hence, women should be empowered to fully exploit their potential at the household level to enhance food security at the community, regional and national levels.

Association of household food insecurity with sociodemographic factors and obesity in US youth: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018.

The objective is to determine the prevalence of household food insecurity (HFI) based on sociodemographic factors and their relationship to obesity in youth. The study included a sample of 1,962 youth (aged 6-18) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The US Household Food Security Survey Module is used to measure food security over the past 12 months. Logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) while controlling for covariates. In total, 27.4% of the individuals surveyed experienced HFI. Youth from food insecure households were more likely to be obese (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.59 [95% confidence interval: 1.19-2.13]) and also having abdominal obesity (aOR: 1.56 [95% CI: 1.19-2.03]). however, factors such as non-Hispanic ethnicity, having a Head of household with a college degree, and households with an income exceeding 350% of the poverty line were associated with a reduced risk of facing HFI. Hispanic individuals, households with lower parental education levels, and lower family incomes, are disproportionately affected by food insecurity. Furthermore, HFI has been associated with an increased risk of overweight and abdominal obesity among youth. Addressing FI requires targeted policies and interventions that prioritize vulnerable groups.

Non-market food production can contribute to diverse dimensions of food security according to key informants in northern New England

ABSTRACT Recent studies have found that growing or wild-harvesting some of one’s own food is associated with food security in high-income societies. Yet this research has not established causal relationships, and it measures household food security using indicators that assess only access to market food. To disentangle how non-market food production interacts with food security, we interviewed 26 key informants who play central roles in communities of gardeners, hunters, fishers, foragers, and homesteaders in northern New England, U.S.A. These informants indicated that non-market food production relates ambiguously to short-term food access in high-income societies where market food is cheap relative to wages. But non-market production can enhance all other recognized dimensions of food security: availability, adequacy, acceptability, agency, utilization, stability, and sustainability. Causation can run the other way, too: food insecurity was said to increase the likelihood and intensity of engagement in non-market food production. Yet poverty can deprive food-insecure households of the equipment, money, skills, and land access needed for successfully producing their own food. Overall, our informants portrayed non-market food production as a skills-based safety net for reliably feeding oneself from the landscape through personal and societal crises, from the distant past to the climate-change future.

Climate-Smart Agriculture as an Adaptation Measure to Climate Change in Togo: Determinants of Choices and Its Impact on Rural Households’ Food Security

Climate-smart agriculture is one of the most important actions for agricultural climate change adaptation, especially in Togo, a sub-Saharan African country with a fragile ecology and where agriculture is profoundly impacted by climate change. Using a multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) and a multinomial endogenous treatment effect (METE) approach, we conducted empirical research to identify the factors influencing the adoption decisions of climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAPs) and their impact on household food security among smallholder farmers in Togo. The findings of this study revealed that the adoption of CSAPs by farmers is influenced by a range of factors, such as age, marital status, the household head’s gender, engagement in off-farm activities, level of education, farm size, agroecological zone, regional location, land ownership, distance between homestead and farm, access to credit, the presence of agricultural associations and cooperatives, and access to extension agents. On the one hand, the MESR analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between the number of adopted CSAPs and households’ food consumption score. Similarly, greater adoption of CSAPs resulted in a significant reduction in the food insecurity experience scale. On the other hand, the METE model portrayed an increase in acceptable food consumption when households adopted up to three CSAPs. Likewise, it significantly alleviated severe food insecurity. Further results based on the propensity score matching technique showed that the adoption of a crop rotation system, utilization of improved varieties of seeds, plant protection products, inorganic fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and irrigation improved adopters’ food consumption scores while reducing their level of food insecurity.

Changes and correlates of household food insecurity during COVID-19: a repeated cross-sectional survey of low-income households in peri-urban Peru

National lockdowns and containment measures to control the spread of COVID-19 led to increased unemployment, lower household incomes and reduced access to affordable and nutritious foods globally. This study aimed to examine changes and correlates of household food insecurity experience and mitigation strategies adopted in peri-urban Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic. Low income households with children age < 2 years in Lima and Huánuco participated in three repeated cross-sectional surveys from 2020 to 2022 (n = 759). We assessed changes in household food insecurity experience using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. Correlates of moderate-severe food insecurity were analysed using univariate and multivariable linear mixed-effect regressions. We also assessed perceived impacts of the pandemic on livelihoods, coping strategies and receipt of financial or food assistance. Moderate-severe food insecurity was 47.0% in 2020 (survey 1) decreasing to 31.1% in 2022 (survey 3). In adjusted analyses, food insecurity was higher in households with perceived reduced income (β = 12.69 [6.82; 18.56]); in the lower socio-economic status (SES) tertiles (compared to the relatively highest SES tertile; middle tertile (β = 20.91 [9.89; 31.93]), lowest tertile (β = 39.37 [28.35; 50.40]); in households with ≥ 2 children < 5 years (β = 8.78 [2.05; 15.50]); and in Lima (compared to Huánuco; β = 10.47 [1.27; 19.67]). Food insecurity improved more among the relatively lowest SES compared to the relatively highest SES households between survey 1 and 3 (interaction p = 0.007). In conclusion, almost half of households experienced moderate-severe food insecurity mid-pandemic with greater risk observed in the most socio-economically disadvantaged households. The inequality gap in food insecurity associated with SES narrowed over time likely due to household coping strategies and reduced poverty.

Tourism-driven livelihood dynamics: A comprehensive empirical study of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park communities in Tanzania

Tourism is pivotal for rural economic development; however, despite hosting a substantial number of tourists, many developing countries with rural landscapes face persistent poverty among local communities. This study aims to delve into the impact of tourism (geoheritage and national parks) on local livelihoods, examining drivers for livelihood portfolio and community decisions to engage in tourism activities. The Multivariate Probit and instrumental variable models (Instrumental Variable Probit, and Two Stage Least Squares) were employed on data from 582 respondents collected through cross-sectional questionnaires. Results highlight the significant influence of socioeconomic factors—sex, age, household size, credit access, market access, social membership, and education—on livelihood portfolio. Results show that specific tourism activities, such as accommodation services, handcrafts, catering and hospitality, and tour guiding, exert varying effects on household food security, income, and access to essential social services. Challenges hindering participation include education levels, information and awareness, service quality, cultural barriers, financial costs, government policies, competition, resource monopolisation, corruption, and infrastructure deficiencies. Recommendations include investments in skill development, infrastructure enhancement, cultural preservation, financial inclusion, regulatory frameworks, and community awareness programs. These strategies aim to facilitate household participation in tourism activities, promoting geotourism and enhancing the well-being of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park communities. Policymakers are urged to implement these measures to uplift local livelihoods and foster sustainable tourism in the region.