Household Food Security Status Research Articles

Rural Household Food Security Status: The Case of Jimma Rare District, Horo Guduru Wollega, Western Ethiopia

Rural Household Food Security Status: The Case of Jimma Rare District, Horo Guduru Wollega, Western Ethiopia

The impact of watershed on household food security: A comparative analysis

Watersheds provide a substantial contribution to household food security. The study investigates whether watershed development and management practices (WDMP) can help with food security challenges, and it compares the impact of WDMP on household food security status among practitioners and non-practitioners in the central highlands of Ethiopia and identified the determinants factors. The study employed a mixed research design with a cross-sectional approach. Household Dietary Diversity Score and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale were used to estimate households' food security status and An Ordered logit econometric model was applied to identify determinant factors. The study resulted in 44.65 % of non-practitioners and 18.30 % of practitioners had a low level of dietary diversity; whereas, 43.40 % of non-practitioners and 38.56 % of practitioners were severely food insecure. The household head's age, the number of laborers, income, livestock size, and agricultural land size highly determined the food security status of households. The HDDS and HFIAS findings reveal a statistically significant difference between WDM practitioners and non-practitioners. Therefore stakeholders must stress the promotion of WDMP to achieve food security.

Assessing the status of household food security and its determinants in Ethiopia: Lesson from Debre Berhan town

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of industrialization on human food security in Debre Berhan city, Ethiopia. The research design used to conduct the study was descriptive, with mixed data-gathering approaches and analytical methods. Both primary and secondary data sources were used to collect the required data through laboratory tests, questionnaires, interviews, and FGDs. 227 farming households and 328 factory employees were selected systematically from and around sample industries for the sample survey. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as percentages, means, and standard deviations. In addition, the study used inferential statistical techniques, including a logistic regression model to identify relationships and patterns within the data. Whereas thematic analysis was used to assess the qualitative data. The findings of the study revealed that 52% and 53% of households and 47% and 49% of factory workers failed to achieve the minimum quantity and quality of food, respectively. Whereas, based on a proxy measure of the percentage of budgets devoted to food purchases, 83% of employees and 77% of farming households were classified as food insecure. The findings of the binary logistic regression analysis also indicated that food insecurity had a significant relationship with family size (β = 0.441, p = 0.007), livestock number (β = −0.221, p = 0.001), farmland size (β = −1.292, p = 0.061), distance from factories (β = −0.691, p = 0.005), off-farm employment (β = −2.789, p = 0.014), compensation for lost asset (β = −3.037, p = 0.002) and access to training (β = −3.037, p = 0.000). The study indicates that households with larger families, fewer livestock, smaller agricultural lands, lack of off-farm income, proximity to industries, insufficient compensation, and inadequate training experience food insecurity. The study concludes that industrial expansion negatively and significantly affected the food security of the farming and employed households. The study recommends that fair compensation, create off-farm income, prioritize community well-being, and foster sustainable development amidst industrial expansion.

Associations between food insecurity and diabetes risk factors in US adolescents in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2016.

To evaluate the associations between household food insecurity and diabetes risk factors among lower-income US adolescents. Cross-sectional analysis. Household food security status was measured using the 18-item Food Security Survey Module. Simple and multivariable linear and logistic regressions were used to assess the association between food security status and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HbA1C and homoeostatic model assessment - insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The analyses were adjusted for household and adolescent demographic and health characteristics. USA. 3412 US adolescents aged 12-19 years with household incomes ≤300 % of the federal poverty line from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles 2007-2016. The weighted prevalence of marginal food security was 15·4 % and of food insecurity was 32·9 %. After multivariate adjustment, adolescents with food insecurity had a 0·04 % higher HbA1C (95 % CI 0·00, 0·09, P-value = 0·04) than adolescents with food security. There was also a significant overall trend between severity of food insecurity and higher HbA1C (Ptrend = 0·045). There were no significant mean differences in adolescents' FPG, OGTT or HOMA-IR by household food security. Food insecurity was associated with slightly higher HbA1c in a 10-year sample of lower-income US adolescents aged 12-19 years; however, other associations with diabetes risk factors were not significant. Overall, this suggests slight evidence for an association between food insecurity and diabetes risk in US adolescents. Further investigation is warranted to examine this association over time.

Effects of COVID-19 on the food security status of rural farming households. Evidence from Nigeria

For the past couple of decades, food insecurity has become a major global phenomenon, which makes zero hunger the second Sustainable Development Goal. Nevertheless, COVID-19 has set in and posed a serious threat to the food system. Thus, there is a need to assess its effect on food security. This study, therefore, examined the effects of COVID-19 on the food security of rural farming households in Enugu State, Nigeria. Data collected from 120 households were analysed using descriptive statistics, the food security index, and logistic regression. The results revealed that the majority (64.5%) of the households with a shortfall index of 0.313 were food insecure, while only 35.5% were food secure with a surplus index of 0.109. The average daily equivalent calorie consumption of adults in food insecure and food secure households was 1552.52 and 2506.88 kcal, respectively. Low food availability (p<0.01), an increase in food prices (p<0.01), and the inability to harvest crops (p<0.1) increased the probability of food insecurity. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the imposed lockdown has affected household food security. In contrast, access to credit (p<0.01), education (p<0.1), cooperative memberships (p<0.01), and income (p<0.05) positively influenced food security status. Reducing rational consumption, eating less expensive food, skipping meals, borrowing money to buy food, allowing children to eat first, and engaging in additional small-scale productivity activities were the major food insecurity coping strategies adopted by households during COVID-19. The study recommends the provision of farm inputs and financial support to farmers by governments and NGOs to curb the adverse effects of COVID-19 on food security.

The Impact of Livelihood Diversification As a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy on the Food Security Status of Pastoral Households in Southeastern and Southern Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to investigate the determinants of food security and quantify the impact of livelihood diversification as an adaptation strategy on the level of food security of pastoral households in Arero district in Borena zone and Rayitu district in Bale zone in Ethiopia. A multistage sampling technique was used, selecting 396 households from Arero and Rayitu districts. The study used a multidimensional food security index to measure the food security status of pastoralist households. The descriptive result showed that 60.6 percent, 20.2 percent, and 19.2 percent of the pastoralist households had medium, high and low food security, respectively. The result of ordered logistic regression showed that the age of household head, herd size (TLU) and frequency of extension contacts significantly increased the food security status of pastoralist households. However, male household head, age of household head, household size (adult equivalent) and distance to market significantly decrease the food security status of pastoral households in Arero district. On the other hand, the result of the multinomial endogenous switching regression model showed that the uptake of non-farm activities as well as crop production and non-farm activities together have a positive and significant impact on the level of food security of the pastoralist households. Therefore, the results of the study suggest that working on participatory strategies to promote livelihood diversification among pastoralist communities is very important to improve the food security of pastoralist households.

STUDY ON FOOD SECURITY AMONG FARM HOUSEHOLDS PARTICIPATING IN THE SUSTAINABLE FOOD YARD (SFY) PROGRAM IN SEMARANG CITY

Food security in Indonesia can realized when the population’s food needs are met. One of the efforts to increase food security carried out by the Food Security Agency under the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture is implementing the Sustainable Food Yard (SFY) program or Pekarangan Pangan Lestari (P2L) in Indonesia. The SFY program utilizes yards, idle land, or empty land for agricultural activities. Semarang City includes the regions that have received the SFY program since 2020. This research aims to determine the status of food security and the role of the SFY program on the food security of farm households participating in the SFY program in Semarang City—the research conduct using a survey method on 130 farm household samples. The data collection technique is in the form of interviews using a 24-hour food recall questionnaire. The data obtained was then processed using cross-tabulation analysis between energy sufficiency percentage and food expenditure shared with the Microsoft Excel application to determine the food security status of farm households. The role of the SFY program on the food security of participating farm households was analyzed descriptively. The research results show that the distribution of food security status of farm households participating in the SFY program in Semarang City is 88.46 percent food secure, 3.08 percent vulnerable, and 8.46 percent questionable. The role of the SFY program in the food security of farm households is not very significant in increasing energy consumption and reducing household food expenditure.

Assessment of Food Security Status and its Coping Mechanism in Selected Districts of Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The study was conducted in selected Districts of Gamo Gofa Zone with the main objectives to identify the determinants of food security status and its coping mechanisms. Result was reported by percentage, frequency and average, Chi-square, t-test and binary logit model. Household calorie acquisition in food consumption was used to evaluate the status of household food security. The totals of 196 respondents were used. Among them, 39.8 % were food secure and 60.2% were not secure. The average Kcal consumed by food secure and insecure households was 2756.3 and 1506.2 respectively. There was a statistical significance average variation of kcal consumption per day per AE (p<1%). The binary logistic model result shows that five were found to be a significant effect on the household food security status out of 11 variables included in the model. These were: farm size, TLU, Market, Food aid, and Annual food expenditure were significantly affecting household food security status (p<10%, 5%, and 1%). Rural households have practiced different coping mechanisms at different stages of food deficit including: Sale of livestock, reduce the size and the number of meals, receive food aid, involve in off-farm activities, daily labor, borrow cash/ kind from others were the dominant coping mechanisms. According to this finding recommended that technologies that improves the productivity of farm and livestock should be given more attention. Some of the coping mechanisms practiced by farmers were more harmful than others. Practices: like rent out farm, livestock sale, and charcoal making have negative effect on subsequent period production and productivity of the farmers as well as negative environmental effect. Therefore, understanding the coping mechanisms performed by the household provides a clue for the determination and promotion of sustainable development strategies.

Household Food Security Status and Allostatic Load among United States Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–2020

BackgroundHousehold food insecurity has been linked to adverse health outcomes, but the pathways driving these associations are not well understood. The stress experienced by those in food-insecure households and having to prioritize between food and other essential needs could lead to physiologic dysregulations [i.e., allostatic load (AL)] and, as a result, adversely impact their health. ObjectiveTo assess the association between household food security status and AL and differences by gender, race and ethnicity, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation. MethodsWe used data from 7640 United States adults in the 2015–2016 and 2017–March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate means and prevalence ratios (PR) for AL scores (based on cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune biomarkers) associated with self-reported household food security status from multivariable linear and logistic regression models. ResultsAdults in marginally food-secure [mean = 3.09, standard error (SE) = 0.10] and food-insecure households (mean = 3.05; SE = 0.08) had higher mean AL than those in food-secure households (mean = 2.70; SE = 0.05). Compared with adults in food-secure households in the same category, those more likely to have an elevated AL included: SNAP participants [PR = 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.22] and Hispanic women (PR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.37) in marginally food-secure households; and non-Hispanic Black women (PR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.26), men (PR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.26), and non-SNAP non-Hispanic White adults (PR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.39) in food-insecure households. ConclusionsAL may be one pathway by which household food insecurity affects health and may vary by gender, race and ethnicity, and SNAP participation.

Has COVID-19 influenced household food security in the Timorese population?

Food scarcity as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused famine around the world. The solution of the COVID-19 problem, will involve the minor elements of the community, such as overcoming household food security. This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess whether composite index of household food security, nutrient intake, nutritional status, individual and household dietary diversity score with food and agricultural organization measuring household and individual dietary diversity score among the Timorese family with toddlers’ population during pandemic period, using interviews and direct measurements of respondents, involving 1444 participants. Areas prone to food insecurity had a lower average index score than food-insecure areas. There was a strong correlation between the index score and the level of nutritional adequacy of children under five in: energy, protein, fat, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. In addition, the index scores also had a strong positive correlation with the dietary diversity of children under five years old, as seen from the individual dietary diversity score (IDDS) score with r value 0.231 (p value 0.000). There was a strong positive correlation between the index score and the nutritional status of children under five according to body weight for age (BW/A), height for age (H/A), and body weight for height (BW/H). In general, the index developed from this study described the status of household food security. In addition, the total index score could be a fairly strong predictor of nutrient intake and nutritional status in children under five years old.

Food Security in Households of Stunting Toddlers in the Meratus Mountains Region HULU Sungai Tengah District, South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

The occurrence of stunting in toddlers often arises due to vulnerable food security at the household level. Household food security includes food availability, food access, and food diversity related to ecosystem conditions. This research aims to determine family food security in stunted toddlers and its relationship with food availability, food access, and food diversity in the Meratus Mountains of Batang Alai Timur District, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency, South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. The methods used are observation, interviews, and recording methods. The research results show that the average energy consumed by toddlers in Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency is 1104.2 kcal/capita/day with an RDA score of 65.4. The food security status of most households is in the food insecure category with a moderate degree of hunger of 70.0%, a degree of severe hunger of 30.0% and there are no households experiencing food security and food insecurity without hunger. Aspects of food availability, two respondents have high food availability, namely 10%, two respondents with moderate food availability, 10%, and the majority have low food availability, 80%. Aspects of food access, 6 respondents have a distance of < 25 minutes to the market, namely 30%, 14 respondents have access to a market with a distance of ≥ 25 minutes to obtain food, 70%. Aspects of food security, there are 20 respondents or all families of children under five who experience food insecurity, namely 100%, there are no respondents who have food safe and food alert status. The composite index shows that there are no respondents or families of children under five who have food secure status, there are only two respondents who have food alert status, namely 10% and the majority of families experience food insecurity, totaling 18 respondents, namely 90%. The correlation coefficient value with stunting is the availability of 0.349, access of 0.488, and diversity of 0.373. So it can be concluded that the relationship between availability, access diversity, and stunting is weak.

The influence of sugarcane growing by smallholder farmers on household livelihood, food security, and nutrition status of children below five years in mid-western Uganda

The current study aimed at determining the influence of sugarcane production on livelihoods, food security and nutrition status. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 350 smallholder farmers in mid-western Uganda. Food security was assessed by Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) while household livelihood and nutrition status of children below five (5) years were assessed by a semi-structured questionnaire and anthropometry respectively. Results showed that sugarcane growing households (SCG) cultivated more acreage of food, owned more assets, earned more income than the non-sugarcane growing households (NSCG). Ownership of motorcycles was higher (p < 0.05) among SCG than NSCG. Households reported anxiety and uncertainty of having food in the previous four weeks (SCG 38%; NSCG 55.2%); had insufficient food quality (SCG 56.8%; NSCG 70.7%); and had insufficient food quantity (SCG 41.7%; NSCG 49.2%). SCG were more food secure (32.3%) than the NSCG (20.8%) (p < 0.05) with a corresponding mean HFIAS of 6.56 ± 6.69 and 8.41 ± 6.41, respectively. Stunting among children below five years among NSCG was higher (34.6%) than in SCG (21.3%). Among SCG, 7.3% and 5.2% of children were underweight and wasted while 6.06% and 2.7% were underweight and wasted from NSCG. This demonstrated that sugarcane growing had better livelihood outcomes, positively impacted on asset ownership and food security but mixed effect on nutrition indicators among children in sugarcane growing and non-sugarcane growing households. It is recommended that government and development agencies diversify livelihoods among the NSCG and reinforce the existing livelihoods among SCG; provide nutrition education to both SCG and NSCG for improved food security and nutrition outcomes. Authors suggest further studies using a mixed approach to assess the levels of household nutrient intake in sugarcane growing areas.

Drivers of food and nutrition security during the lean period in southeastern Madagascar

The rural population in southeastern Madagascar faces widespread poverty and weak resilience to frequent climate shocks, both contributing to severe food and nutrition insecurity. For effective policy responses and tailored interventions, development stakeholders need to know which factors determine household food and nutrition security status. In particular, the relative contributions of on-farm production diversity versus cash income are of importance since they would suggest different intervention priorities. We collected survey data on household food security and women's diets during the lean season, where improvements are most needed, as well as on households' agricultural activities, market participation, and sources of cash income from 413 randomly sampled households. Regression results suggest that frequent market participation and cash income from non-farm self-employment improve food security, but on-farm diversity does not. Other determinants of household food security include livestock assets and maternal education. Women's dietary diversity, in contrast, is associated only with market participation. The importance of market participation for food and nutrition security reflects the situation in the lean period, when farm production is low and many households' food supply relies, in part, on market purchases enabled by non-agricultural income. Our findings imply that a focus on developing food markets and enabling opportunities for income generation are likely viable strategies for improving the rural food and nutrition security situation during the lean period in southeastern Madagascar. Relatively food- and nutrition-secure households are characterized by their ability to mobilize cash (e.g., from non-farm self-employment) to purchase food.

Food Security Status and Coping Strategies of Households in Inland Fisheries: Evidence from Fishermen from Niger River Basin

Inland fisheries play an important role in economic growth and food security in developing landlocked countries. In Mali, fishing from the Niger River contributes to national food security and nutrition but the food status of fishermen remains a research question to be explored. The objective of this study is to analyze the security status and coping strategies of fishermen households' in Pelengana municipality located along the Niger River in the Segou region. The adopted methodology is based on the food security index (FSI) which is a composite indicator based on Food consumption score (FCS), Economic vulnerability (EV), and Coping strategy index (CSI). The collection of data by survey concerned 204 households of fishermen in the municipality. The results of the FSI analysis indicate all fishermen's households are food secure. According to the FCS, EV, and CSI analysis, 1.3%, 6.9% and, 8.3% are food insecure. The households sell the fish and buy 98% of their food at the market. In conclusion, fishing allows fishermen to ensure their food security through the generated income for purchasing food at the market. The study encourages development partners and the government of Mali to invest in the development of the fish value chain to improve incomes and strengthen the food security of stakeholders, especially fishermen. For further research, an in-depth analysis of the impact of fish chain development on national food security is needed.

Analysis on Food Security of Peatland Horticultural Farmer Households in Pontianak

Food security, denoting the adequacy of food supply in terms of both quantity and quality for individuals within a given state, is a critical aspect of societal well-being. This research focuses on assessing the food security status of households engaged in peatland cultivation in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The chosen research site, Siantan Hilir, was purposively selected due to its prominence as a hub for horticultural agricultural production within the sub-district. The study encompassed a population of 719 individuals, with a sample size of 42 respondents determined using the slovin formula. Primary data was procured through the observation and the administration of questionnaires to farmers, supplemented by secondary data. The findings unveiled a noteworthy trend where the household income of farmers exceeded their expenditures. However, a significant challenge emerged in the form of food expenditure constituting 64.86% of the total expenditures, thereby underscoring potential obstacles to maintaining food security. Furthermore, the moderate categorization of energy adequacy and the stark revelation that 88% of households lacked food security underscored the imperative for enhancements in managing food expenditures and refining consumption patterns in Siantan Hilir.

Food security and parenting as risk factors of stunting in toddlers aged 24 to 59 months

Background: Stunting is one of the global health problems that need to be considered because the impacts are very complex and long term. There are various factors that influence the incidence of stunting, including food security and parenting. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the status of household food security and parenting, as risk factors of stunting among toddlers in Pamekasan regency. Method: This research was done using the observational analytic with a case control design. Result: Household food security status had a significant relationship with the incidence of stunting. Toddlers who were in food-insecure households had a 3.5 times greater risk of experiencing stunting compared to toddlers in food-resistant families. There is a relationship between these two variables. Toddlers with poor parenting had an 8.4 times higher risk of experiencing stunting compared to toddlers with good parenting. Conclusion: The status of household food security and parenting is a risk factor for the incidence of stunting.

The impact of watershed development on food security status of farm households: Evidence from Northwest Ethiopia

The impact of watershed development on food security status of farm households: Evidence from Northwest Ethiopia

Parenting practices are associated with adolescent food choices during independent eating occasions.

Frequency of independent eating occasions (iEOs) has been linked to intake of unhealthy foods and overweight/obesity among adolescents. Parenting practices involving modeling healthy food intake and making healthy foods available have been associated with healthy food intake among adolescents, however, little is known about these associations during iEOs. To determine whether parenting practices involving structure (monitoring, availability, modeling, and expectations), lack of structure (indulgence), and autonomy support reported by adolescents or parents were associated with adolescent iEO intake of junk foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), sugary foods, and fruit and vegetables. Cross-sectional study measuring parenting practices and adolescent iEO food choices via an online survey and adapted food frequency questionnaire. Parent/adolescent dyads (n = 622) completed surveys (November-December 2021) using a national Qualtrics panel database. Adolescents were 11-14 years and had iEOs at least weekly. Primary measures included parent- and adolescent-reported frequency of food parenting practices and adolescent-reported iEO intake of junk foods, sugary foods, SSBs, and fruits and vegetables. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine associations between parenting practices and iEO intake of foods/beverages, adjusting for adolescent's age, sex, race and ethnicity, iEO frequency, parent's education and marital status, and household food security status. Bonferroni multiple comparison corrections were conducted. More than half of parents were female (66%) and 35-64 years (58%). Adolescents/parents identified as White/Caucasian (44%/42%), Black/African American (28%/27%), Asian (21%/23%), and Hispanic ethnicity (42%/42%). Positive associations were observed among adolescent-reported and parent-reported autonomy support, monitoring, indulgence and expectations parenting practices and adolescent-reported daily iEO intake frequencies of junk foods, sugary foods, and fruits and vegetables (p < 0.001). Structural and autonomy support parenting practices were positively associated with both healthy and unhealthy iEO food intake by adolescents. Interventions to improve adolescent iEO intake could promote positive practices associated with healthy food consumption.

IMPLEMENTING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO EMPOWER FARMER WOMEN IN MANAGING SUSTAINABLE FOOD IN THE MANDIRI VILLAGE

In order to create the socioeconomic conditions that will lead to self-sustaining and sustainable food security, it is crucial to analyze community empowerment models, particularly those that empower women, when evaluating the success of the food self-sufficient village program. In order to empower women in the management of sustainable, food-independent communities, research is being done to examine the state of food security, the role of institutions, and local knowledge. Survey techniques involving observation and interviews are included in the methodologies and data analysis. The findings demonstrated that the adequacy rate at the research site and the empowerment of farm women organizations in the area of family food security were not yet at their best. Some signs that empowerment has not been as effective as it could have been include: 1) respondents' education is typically dominated by elementary school level, which significantly affects food patterns and their presentations; 2) land productivity is limited (0.5 ha) and dependent on rainwater; and 3) the majority of family expenditure is food expenditure and provides less than enough calories (2100 calories). The Nagari Institutional's inadequate assistance and its local wisdom have a secondary impact on this problem. The women farmers' group's household food security status demonstrates that the empowerment of women farmers is not yet at its best, making independent food management unsustainable.

Impact of Community-Level Infrastructure on Household Food Insecurity in Africa

Although income levels play a critical role in determining a household's food security status, this alone cannot fully explain the variations in the phenomenon. To fully explore food insecurity, it is essential to consider non-household factors such as social and physical infrastructure, which directly impact people's quality of life. In this study, we used data from rounds 6, 7, and 8 of the Afrobarometer survey conducted between 2014 and 2021 to investigate the relationship between infrastructure deficit and household food insecurity vulnerability in Africa. Our findings from multilevel logistic regression showed that access to social and physical infrastructure can alleviate household food insecurity vulnerability to varying degrees. For instance, having an electricity grid and a public water supply system can reduce the likelihood of food insecurity by 15% and 13%, respectively. Similarly, having a bank and a health clinic in a community can reduce the possibility of food insecurity by 6% and 3%, respectively. These findings revealed that physical infrastructure has a more substantial impact on reducing food insecurity than social infrastructure. Nevertheless, African governments should focus on investing in both types of infrastructure and ensuring that it is distributed fairly and equitably to benefit all.