Household Food Security Status Research Articles

Analysis of Food Security Status of Fishermen's Households on Kulisusu District North Buton Regency

This study aims to determine the level of household food security in coastal communities. The research was carried out in 2020 in Lantagi Village, Kulisusu District, North Buton Regency. Samples were taken by simple random sampling with a total sample of 35 people. The data analysis used is descriptive quantitative and analysis of food security status using the household food security module developed by the United States Development of Agriculture. The results showed that the level of household food security status of coastal communities was low. This is because most of the fishermen in the research location are classified as poor, and their source of income only relies on fishing activities. Where fishing activities in the sea are also very dependent on traditional fishing gear, sea conditions, waves, weather/seasons. The steps usually taken by fishermen when facing low-income situations so that household food availability remains adequate are buying cheaper food, reducing food consumption, and sometimes borrowing money from family or neighbors.

Household Food Security, Nutritional Intake, and Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women in the Central Tapanuli Regency

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition that occurs during pregnancy can result in inadequate household food security so that it will affect the baby to be born. AIM: This study aims to determine household food security, nutrient intake, and nutritional status of pregnant women in the Central Tapanuli Regency. METHODS: This research is part of the DRPM research with the title of improving the nutrition of pregnant women and the success of breastfeeding immediately after birth through strengthening household food security in the Central Tapanuli Regency. The stages of this research are to identify the level of household food security and nutrient intake as well as the nutritional status of pregnant women. The study was conducted using observation and interviews as well as measuring LILA, examination of Hb levels, and iodine levels in the urine of 131 pregnant women purposively in eight districts of the Central Tapanuli. RESULTS: The household food security of status that is food insecure is 18.3%. The nutritional status of pregnant women with anemia was 58.7% and those with SEZ were 19.1% fiber with the low levels of iodine in the urine as much as 63.9%. Adequate intake of energy nutrients is 42% and sufficient protein is 38.9%. There was a significant relationship between food security status and energy intake (p = 0.000; OR = 53.9) and protein intake (p = 0.004; OR = 4.1). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant relationship between household food security status with energy and protein intake of pregnant women. Increased consumption of foods containing animal protein is recommended for pregnant women related to household food insecurity.

Assessment of Food Security and Livelihood Status of Rural Households Adopting Improved Rice Varieties in Kwara and Niger States of Nigeria

The study assessed the food security and livelihood status of rural households adopting improved rice varieties in Kwara and Niger States of Nigeria. Sample sizes of three hundred and ninety four rice farmers were selected using multi-stage sampling method. Structured questionnaire complimented with interview were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, food security index, livelihood status index and Simpson index of diversity. The findings revealed 83.3% and 82.7% of rice farmers adopted FARO 44 and FARO 54 respectively. Also, 92.1% were food secured while 65.5% were of moderate livelihood status. The Simpson Diversification Index of rice farmers in the study area was 0.219, indicating low degree. Thus, it is recommended that rice farmers should diversify into other income generating activities in order to enhance their livelihood status and food security status. Also, research institutes should ensure farmers' access improved rice varieties with affordable prices and right time in order to enhance their livelihood and food security status.

Assessment of Household Food Security Status of Extension Services Beneficiaries in Obio Akpo and Emuoha LGAs in Rivers State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to assess the food security status of households who benefited from extension services in Obio Akpo and Emuoha Local Government Areas of Rivers State of Nigeria. The data used for the study was obtained from primary sources only. Structured questionnaires were administered on 240 respondents who were selected purposively and randomly respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive and copping strategy index to determine the food security status of the respondents. The results indicated that the beneficiaries of extension services fell between the ages of 20-59years. This result showed that the beneficiaries of extension services were young and full of energy which enhanced food production and security. Furthermore, the results also indicate that 80.4% of extension beneficiaries from Obio Akpo Local government area were food secured while 19.6% were food unsecured. However, 76.7% of beneficiaries of extension services from Emuoha Local Government Area were food secured whereas only 23.3% of beneficiaries were food unsecured. The food security status of beneficiaries of extension services from both Local government areas were food secured due to the reduced activities of the militants in the Niger Delta resulting from amnesty granted to the Militants during the period of this research work. Furthermore, there are increased assistance from oil companies and non-governmental organizations to enhance the food production and security in these local government areas.

Climate change impacts on household food security and farmers adaptation strategies

Climate change is predicted to adversely affect agricultural yields, particularly in African countries such as Ethiopia, where crop production relies heavily on environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature. However, there have only been a limited number of studies on the effects of climate change dynamics on food security in Africa, particularly at the household level. We therefore analyzed local climatic changes, the status of household food security, climate-related causes of food insecurity, food security determinants and the adaptation strategies of local farmers. Three decades meteorological data were analyzed. A total of 185 farmers were selected using simple random sampling and interviewed, together with focus groups. Data were analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics were used together with the logit regression model. Climate change over the last three decades was found to have a negative impact the food security status of households. Crop production was constrained by poor rainfall, severe erosion and increases in temperature. The unpredictability of rainfall, pests and diseases were also contributing factors. Using the calorie intake approach, 60.5% of sampled respondents were found to be food insecure. Analysis using the logistic regression model showed that age and family size, as well as the amount of cultivated land and rainfall were the significant (p < 0.05) factors influencing household food security status. A large proportion (69.8%) of farmers were incorporating adapting strategies into farm management including improved use of crop varieties and livestock production, in addition to income diversification. Taken together, these findings show that improving climate change awareness, facilitating the participation of female-led households in income generation and strengthening existing adaptation measures have positive impacts on food security. • Temperature and rainfall variability. • Impact of climate change on crop production and household food security. • Farmers indigenous knowledge on climate change adaptation measures.

Climate change and variability adaptation strategies and their implications for household food Security: The case of Basona Worena District, North Shewa zone, Ethiopia

The impact of climate change and variability on agriculture and food security is severe in countries that heavily depend on rainfed subsistence agriculture. Examine climate change and variability and determinant factors of adaptation to ensure household food security in Basona Worena District, central highland of Ethiopia. Data were collected from the randomly selected 138 sample households, key informants and National Meteorological Agency. Rainfall and temperature trend and variability were analyzed using the Mann-Kendall test and Precipitation Concentration Index. Household food security was determined using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and Food Consumption Score. Moreover, Tobit Model was used to examine climate change and variability adaptation options, while ordered logistic regression was employed to examine the contribution of climate change and variability adaptation to household food security status from the food consumption dimension. In the study site, an increasing minimum and maximum temperatures and decreasing and variable annual and spring season rainfalls were observed. The site has experienced recurrent drought for the last 35 years (1981–2016). Farmers were practicing biophysical soil and water conservation technologies, agro-forestry, small scale irrigation, livelihood diversification, and growing of high yielding and drought resistant crop varieties. The study identified that extension advisory services, access to training, farm size, sex, frequency of flood, and access to credit determine farmers’ climate change and variability adaptation options. HFIAS and FCS analysis shows that food insecurity is high in the study site. Household food security status was influenced by climate variability and limited adaptation responses. The study suggests the implementation of feasible soil and water conservation, and livelihood diversification intervention to ensure household food security.

Pregnant Women's Quality of life during the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Example from Makassar, Indonesia

Pregnancy is a period of considerable mental and physical change which affects quality of life, even without any complications. during the Covid-19 pandemic, there were limited report on pregnancy care. This study aims to investigate the effect of Covid-19 infection on the physical and psychological health status of pregnant women. It also provide data on the potential risk of food insecurity, which still exist particularly in developing countries. 65 pregnant women participated in this study, meanwhile, the survey was transferred and shared on Google during the online review stage for one month using convenience sampling (non-probability sampling). Furthermore, this study was carried out using a cross-sectional design, while the data were collected via two questionnaires, namely World health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) and Maternal Consumption behavior during pregnancy. The results showed that the respondents have good quality of life (56.9%) as stated in WHOQOL-BREF. The majority of the respondent are in good category in terms of physical (90.8%), psychological (70.8%), social relationship (61.5%) and environmental domain (90.8%). However, 6% were in the bad category in relation to general life quality. Regarding the perceived health status, approximately half of the respondent were satisfied with individual health during the pandemic, while 3.1% and 10.6% were very satisfied and unsatisfied respectively. It is recommended the pregnant women to be screened for household food security status and life quality during main prenatal care approach that includes policymaking, resource allocation, and proper service delivery with the goal of guaranteeing pregnant women's access to a variety of high-quality meals and good life quality.

Determinants of Food Security Status and Coping Strategies to Food Insecurity among Rural Crop Farming Households in Ondo State, Nigeria

This study examined the food security status and coping strategies to food insecurity of rural arable crop farming households in Ondo State, Nigeria. Primary data were used and a multistage sampling procedure was used to select 150 respondents. Food Security Index (FSI), Probit regression model and Coping Strategy Use Index (CSUI) were employed to carry out the analysis. The empirical findings revealed that (54%) of rural arable crop farming households in the study area were food secure based on the recommended minimum calorie of 2260Kcal. Furthermore, the empirical analysis revealed that gender of the household head, household size, farm size and farm income of the household head had significant influence on the household food security status. The most widely employed coping strategy was withdrawal from personal savings as indicated by 14.82 percent of household and while reliance on less expensive food and purchasing food on credit were ranked second and third respectively with 13.66 and 12.85 percent by the food insecure households. In other to ensure sustainable food security among the households, the study recommended effective household size management, and enlightenment programmes on family planning in the study area. Farmers should increase their farm sizes. Farmers should use more inputs and technologies to increase output. Farmers should also be encouraged to have additional source of income towards attaining food security in the study area.

Moderate and Severe Level of Food Insecurity Is Associated with High Calorie-Dense Food Consumption of Filipino Households.

Food insecurity is often deeply rooted in poverty. Hence, accessibility and the quality of foods consumed may affect the dietary pattern. The study aims to assess the relationship between food insecurity and dietary consumption. This investigation analyzed the data from the 2015 Updating of Nutritional Nutrition Survey. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to determine household food security status and the prevalence of food insecurity. Food weighing, food inventory, and food recall were the methods used to collect food consumption data of sampled households. The study revealed poor nutrient quality and a greater likelihood of inadequacy of nutrients among moderate and severe food insecure households. Mild, moderate, and severe levels of food insecurity were found to affect 12%, 32%, and 22% of the population, respectively. The test showed that both moderate and severe food insecure families have significantly lower mean consumption of meat, milk, and fats and oils in contrast to food secure households. In comparison with food secure households, moderate and severe food insecure households consume higher amounts of cereals and cereal products, rice, and vegetables. Moderate and severe food insecure households have higher consumption of total carbohydrates but have significantly lower average intake of vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin, and total fat related to food stable households. Moreover, the results of the multiple logistic regression revealed that food insecure households have a higher likelihood to be deficient in energy, protein, calcium, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin C intakes, but except for iron (p value <0.05). Indeed, household food insecurity was associated with the higher consumption of calorie-dense food among Filipino households. This explains a lower nutrient quality and a higher likelihood of inadequacy of nutrients among moderate and severe food insecure households.

Villagization as a Policy Option to Rural Food Security: Facts from Villages in Assosa Zone, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia

Background: Villagization scheme was chosen as a policy option and implemented to ensure sustainable food security in Assosa zone, Benishangul-Gumuz region, Ethiopia, although it is blamed for intensifying food insecurity instead. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the food security status of households gathered in planned villages in the framework of villagization. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 344 households who were randomly selected. A questionnaire was used after exploring the perception of village communities about the nature of food security. Food security status was measured using a household food balance model (FBM) that uses calorie threshold value of 2100 Kcal/Adult Equivalent (ADE)/day. Results: There were some basic services and infrastructures in the planned villages, although most of them were supplied before the implementation of villagization scheme. The scheme did not improve the food security status of households in the villages; since about 67% of them were food insecure and only 33% were food secure. The proportion of food insecure households is much more than the recent national figure of 40%. Conclusion: In spite of the fact that some basic services and infrastructures were supplied in the planned villages, villagization did not improve the food security status of households; in contrast food insecurity remained high. The scheme was merely supplied the service and infrastructures without improving economic access to basic services and infrastructures. It is recommended to conduct a study investigating why villagization could not improve the food security status according to the intended purpose.

The effect of bureaucratic corruption on household food insecurity: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Corruption is a worldwide phenomenon, but the crisis seems to have no bounds in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the absurdity has penetrated and continues to impair the public service sector. As long as the anomaly continues, two outcomes are inevitable. First, an average member of the public runs the risk of paying more for any government service. Second, some or all resources earmarked for other essential needs might get sacrificed to pay for a needed public service. Such unforeseen adverse shocks could potentially increase the chances of wicked problems such as food insecurity. Consequently, this paper examined the welfare effect of bureaucratic corruption on households' ability to procure food in a safe and socially acceptable manner in sub-Saharan Africa using pooled Afrobarometer micro-level data from Rounds 5, 6, and 7 spanning 2011 to 2018. Estimates from logistic regression and the endogenous dummy variable regression that addressed the endogeneity of bureaucratic corruption in the food insecurity model revealed that bureaucratic corruption induced the experience of household food insecurity. Further analyses showed that some public entities have a more significant debilitating effect than others on household food security conditions. More importantly, any contact with government institutions causes household food security status to spiral downward. These results suggest that public institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa are weak and undoubtedly contribute to household food insecurity. Therefore, there is a need for a paradigm shift in how these entities serve the public or else a lasting solution to food insecurity might remain elusive in the region.

Household Food Security Access and Nutritional Status among Early Adolescents in a Poor Neighborhood of Sinamangal, Nepal.

ABSTRACTBackgroundEarly adolescence is an important period of the life cycle wherein the food system plays a critical role in protecting food security as well as the nutritional needs essential for a healthy transition from childhood to adulthood. Despite the surging concerns regarding the food and nutrition security of adolescents throughout the nation, people in a poor neighborhood are often neglected and considered the most vulnerable.ObjectivesThis research aims to assess the status of household food security and nutritional status among early adolescents living in a poor neighborhood of Kathmandu, Nepal.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional study design, data was collected with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) tool. Nutritional status was measured using the WHO Child Growth Standard Reference 2007 Statistical Software for Social Science (SPSS) macro package based on BMI-for-age z-score, height-for-age z-score, and weight-for-age z-score, respectively. Data were entered in a predetermined format of SPSS version 20.0 and imported into STATA version 13.1 for univariate and bivariate analyses. Ethical approval was sought from the Ethical Review Board of Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) prior to the study.ResultsMore than one-fifth (21%) of the households were food insecure. Based on BMI-for-age, 5.5% of the adolescents were found to be moderately undernourished and 2.6% were severely undernourished. The percentage of moderately and severely stunted adolescents were 8.4% and 5.8%, respectively, based on height-for-age. Based on weight-for-age, moderately and severely underweight adolescents accounted for 13.0% and 1.3% of the total.ConclusionThe prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting among early adolescents was high. The households in a poor neighborhood were also experiencing some form of food insecurity. This calls for targeted efforts to address malnutrition and improve the nutritional status of early adolescents, particularly in poor neighborhoods.

Perceived Produce Availability and Child Fruit and Vegetable Intake: The Healthy Communities Study.

Children eat more fruits and vegetables when more are available at home, but less is known about how the neighborhood food environment relates to children’s diet and weight outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine whether parental perception of the food environment (neighborhood and home) is associated with children’s fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake and weight outcomes, and to assess differences by household food security status and household income. Cross-sectional data from the 2013–2015 U.S. Healthy Communities Study included 5138 children, aged 4 to 15 years old, from 130 U.S. communities. Neighborhood and home food environments were assessed with parent-reported, perceived F&V availability scores. Associations were tested with multi-level linear regression models. Parents’ perception of produce availability was associated with household F&V availability ratings (β = 0.09 points, p < 0.001). Household F&V availability was associated with child F&V intake (β = 0.32 cups/day or 25.6 g/day, p < 0.001). A higher child F&V intake was associated with a lower child BMI z-score (β = −0.05, p = 0.002). Weaker relationships were seen for children living in food insecure or low-income households. Optimizing neighborhood and home access to F&V may help children improve diet quality, but may not be as effective for children living in food insecure or low-income households.

Effects of gender-based roles on farm households’ food security status in rural areas of Kogi State, Nigeria

Gender is one of the key issues of discourse among policy experts, research scholars and government as part of the sustainable development goals. In this paper, we examined gender roles in food security among farming households in Kogi state, Nigeria. First, we assessed the food security status of the farm households. Second, the contributions of gender in household security status were identified. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 farm households and data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. In the study we employed the use of food security index, chi square test and logistic regression analysis. The results revealed that only about 35% of the households are food secure (&gt;2470 kcal/AE/day). The logistic regression model shows that fitted model is statistically significant with the log likelihood of 118.691 and Chi-square of 59.19 (P value &lt; 0.05) with the R2 of 0.61. Household size, access to credit and membership of social groups are significant factors influencing households’ food security status. Therefore, the study recommends that women empowerments should be inculcated into the mainstream of any government policy targeted at ensuring food security of rural households.

Analysis of the Dimensions and Determinants of Household Food Security Status among Maize Farming Households in Lagos State, Nigeria

The study focused on analysis of the dimensions and determinants of household food security status among maize farming households in Lagos State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, examine the dimensions of food security status of the households, determine their food security status and examine the factors influencing food security among the maize farming households in the study area. Primary data for the study were obtained from 155 maize farming household heads with the aid of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, food security index assessment and logit regression model were used to analyse the data. The results showed that majority (91.6%) of the households were headed by males who were aged 59 years, on the average, married (91.6%) and their level of literacy was very high as all of the respondents had a form of formal education. The mean household size of the study area was 7 members. The household heads had farming experience of 32 years, a mean farm size of 2.14 hectares for maize farming and an average of 1.24 hectares for farming other crops. The results further showed that 77.4% of the household heads perceived food to be moderately available for consumption throughout the year, 81.3% had three square meals each day and 81.2% perceived their food quality consumed to be high all year round. Consequently, majority (97%) of them were food secure. Significant determinants of food security status among the households were farm size, household size and access to credit facilities. Farm size and access to credit facilities influenced food security positively while household size affected it negatively. It was recommended that government should create enabling environment for the farmers to have easy access to more arable land and credit facilities to help them expand their production in order to improve food security for both the farmers and the citizens at large. Keywords: food security, household, socio-economics DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-20-04 Publication date: October 31 st 2021

Context Matters for Food Security: Multi-Sited Evidence of Shared Cultural Models of Food Consumption

ABSTRACT Anthropologists have long emphasized the social significance of foods and the contexts in which they are consumed. Expanding on this idea, we define the context of consumption as the non-eating behaviors that surround eating, such as the manner of food preparation, food sharing, and dietary patterns. In this study, we used cultural consensus analysis to assess whether there exist consistently shared, normative ideas about preferable context of food consumption in three diverse research sites: urban Ethiopia, rural Brazil, and rural Haiti. Our analysis demonstrates that in all three communities, there are distinct sets of behaviors that people identified as non-preferable because they reliably associate them with poverty and food insecurity, and behaviors that people identify as preferable because they reliably associate them with wealth and food security. Across the settings, there was little variation in agreement about behaviors across household composition, age, gender, and food security status. These findings suggest that people do indeed share culturally specific ideas about the context in which foods should be prepared and consumed, beyond the actual content of one’s diet. Exploring these cultural models elucidates the social consequences of food insecurity, enabling researchers to better examine the relationship between food insecurity, social context, and well-being.

COVID-19 and Food-Related Outcomes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Disparities by Income and Food Security Status.

ABSTRACTBackgroundLimited research suggests increased adverse behavioral outcomes, such as distractibility and hyperactivity, among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a result of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19); however, little is known about how the pandemic has impacted food-related behaviors among children with ASD.ObjectiveThis study characterizes the impact of the pandemic on access to preferred foods and eating behaviors among children with ASD.MethodsCaregiver proxies (n = 200) participated in a cross-sectional, online survey investigating the impact of COVID-19 on reported food and eating behaviors of children, ages 2–17 y. Logistic regression models were used to assess the magnitude of association of a change in the child's eating behaviors and in food availability, overall and by household income and food security status.ResultsA majority of respondents reported a moderate-to-large impact on their child's eating behaviors (57%) since the onset of COVID-19, and 65% reported unavailability of their child's preferred foods. Increased risk of a moderate-to-large impact on children's eating behaviors was associated with shelter regulations compared with no regulations (OR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.12, 4.72), food insecurity compared with security status (OR: 2.60; 95% CI: 1.45, 4.67), and household income of <$50,000 compared with ≥$100,000 (OR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.02, 5.29). The pandemic also amplified the risk of food unavailability by household food security status (food insecure vs. secure; OR: 4.13; 95% CI: 2.12, 7.69) and across income levels (<$50,000 vs. ≥$100,000; OR: 3.48; 95% CI: 1.42, 8.55; and $50,000 to <$100,000 vs. ≥$100,000; OR: 4.00; 95% CI: 1.71, 9.34). Reported frequencies of consumption of meat, seafood, vegetables, and 100% fruit juice significantly decreased among the children post-onset of COVID-19, while frequency of consumption of sweets increased.ConclusionsA large proportion of caregivers reported substantial COVID-19 impacts on food availability and eating behaviors of children with ASD, especially among low-resource dyads. This study highlights the added burden of existing disparities due to the pandemic on children living with ASD.

Women empowerment, Land Tenure and Property Rights, and household food security among smallholders in Nigeria

BackgroundEmpowering women, land tilting to enhance the security of Land Tenure and Property Rights (LTPRs) in agriculture vis-a-vis food and nutrition security are crucial in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. The main goal of this paper is to examine the crucial roles of women’s empowerment and LTPRs as they affect household food security among smallholder farmers in Nigeria.MethodologyCross-sectional data were obtained from 1152 maize and rice farmers, selected by multistage random sampling across 192 communities, 16 States and the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The data were collected on households’ socio-economics, food security situations, empowerment and LTPRs on parcels cultivated during the 2016/17 farming season by interviewing the adult members of the farmers’ households. HFS was assessed using the United States Department of Agriculture’ HFS Survey Module and Food and Agriculture Organization guidelines for measuring Household Dietary Diversity Score. LTPRs were measured in terms of tenure type and title registration to farmlands. HFS modelling was within the framework of Poisson, Instrumental Variable Poisson (IVP) and Zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) regression methods, with endogeneity concerns and choice of specification addressed within Hausman specification tests.ResultsThe results of the study show that households that have a share of farmland on purchase and also participate in off-farm activities are likely to be certainly food-secure in all regards. Crop diversity, households that cultivate maize only, the share of farmland on purchase and access to extension contact significantly reduce the severity of food insecurity while an increase in farm size increases the severity of food insecurity. Similarly, IV Poisson and ZIP Count results show that increase in the farm size results in the severity of food insecurity. The evidence with respect to women’s empowerment reveals that gender parity and female achievement in group membership, income control, as well as workload; reduce the extent of food insecurity among the farming households in Nigeria. We, however, discover that the female achievement in the productive decision and credit increases the severity of food insecurity among the smallholder farmers. The analyses also reveal that education of the household head, female achievement in the asset; group membership and workload are the major factors that positively influenced household dietary diversity.ConclusionThe study suggests the adoption of climate-smart practices to overcome the issue of marginal farmlands, promotion of crop and livelihood diversification among the smallholder farmers, effective extension services delivery, and improving women’s access to productive resources to enhance household food security status in Nigeria.

Household Food Security Status and Social Cohesion Among Adults Living in a Rural, Appalachian Mississippi County

Explain the relationship between household food security status and social cohesion among adults living in a rural, Appalachian Mississippi county.

Food Insecurity Determinants amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Insight from Huntsville, Texas

Food insecurity continues to affect a large number of the U.S households during the novel COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has indeed threatened the livelihood of people, making them vulnerable to severe hardship and has had an unanticipated impact on the U.S economy. While researchers have carried out studies in some cities in Texas to ascertain the degree of food insecurity in households, none has examined the status of food insecurity amongst the households in the city of Huntsville, following COVID-19. Thus, this study attempts to identify the food insecurity status of households and the determinant factors driving household food insecurity in Huntsville, Texas. Additionally, the research attempts to identify the mitigation measures adopted by households during the pandemic in the city. Therefore, a structured online sample survey was used to collect data, while household expenditures survey was utilized in evaluating the food security status of households. The data were subjected to a critical evaluation via descriptive statistics and logistic regression modeling. A logistic regression model was used to determine the factors responsible for food insecurity in the study area. The examination showed that COVID-19 had a practical effect on the lives and source(s) of income of majority of the respondents. However, most households in the study area were food secure, because a significant proportion were educated, and fully employed, while those who had part time jobs or unemployed were food insecure. Also, the provisions of the American Rescue Plan and economic impact payment enabled food security amongst the households in Huntsville, Texas. Overall, the research evinced that 63.13 % of households were food secure as a result of societal support from charitable organizations, while 36.87 were food insecure in the city of Huntsville, Texas.