by Giguère-Johnson Madélie, Ward Stéphanie, Ndene Ndiaye Aminata, Galibois Isabelle and Blaney Sonia
Original Research
Background: In West Africa, there is scarcity of data on the food environment of adolescent girls even though these factors impact their nutritional status. This study described the school and home food environment of Senegalese adolescent girls living in Dakar city. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Dakar city, Senegal over a two-month period among adolescent girls aged 13-18 years old (n = 136) years old attending two colleges. Dietary intake and food behaviours were assessed using three 24-hour recalls. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale was used to assess accessibility to food in the adolescents’ home environment. To assess the availability and access to food in their school environment, an inventory of all foods available and their prices was performed in all food outlets located near each college where adolescents purchased food. Principal findings: Two thirds of adolescent girls` households were food insecure. Overall, food outlets sold more unhealthy than healthy foods. The average price of meat, poultry and fish, as well as the average price of sweets were higher than that of other food groups. Conclusions: Results show that Senegalese adolescent girls’ home and school food environments do not support healthy eating. Actions at multiple levels of the food system are needed to improve adolescents’ availability and accessibility to healthy foods.
Journal of Food Security. 2021, 9(1), 29-35. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-9-1-5
Pub. Date: February 24, 2021
2447 Views11 Downloads
by Mohamed Abd Alrazik Desogi, Fatima Abbas Khalid, Awadia Khojali Mohamed, Asma Mahmoud Hamza, Sarah Salih Mohammed, Abdualmoniem Omer Abdalla, Isameldin Mustafa Mohamed, Mahgoub Ali Adam and Abdalla Ali Mohammed
Original Research
Background: Eastern Sudan suffered from poverty, drought and climatic changed that increase the burden of food insecurity. Method: This is a cross sectional study conducted in a remote locality in Kassala State (Eastern Sudan), to determine the magnitude and relating factors of household food insecurity. We studied 445 households in 16 villages. We used specially designed structured questionnaire. We used food consumption score (FCS) to measure household food insecurity . Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 statistical package. Frequencies and Chi2 were performed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to develop the final model indicating the predictors of the outcome variable. Results: Food insecurity and vulnerability for food insecurity is found in 181 (38.7%) of household studied. Eating habits and avoidance of certain types of food was found among other contributing factors. The study included 445 households, 181 (38.7%) of them were food insecure or vulnerable to be insecure. A high percentage (67.2%) was reported in Hamishokreib locality. There were significant associations (P < 0.001) between household's food insecurity and income, household size, number of children, eating habits and avoidance of certain types of food. Conclusion: According to the study findings, more attention is needed to improve household food security in the study area .Good eating habits can be achieved by designing education programs to improve knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to healthy eating and food preparation and overall, increasing household income through improving the farming methods, and finding the alternative sources of income.
Journal of Food Security. 2021, 9(1), 25-28. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-9-1-4
Pub. Date: January 29, 2021
2289 Views4 Downloads
by Loice Loo, George Wagah and Noora-Lisa Aberman
Original Research
The aim of this study is to link governance and gender in the informal food markets which have been overlooked by research and global policy agendas. Specifically, the study sets out to establish the effect of regulations on men and women trading food in the main informal markets of Kisumu City Kenya. Cross-sectional study was employed in Kibuye and Jubilee Markets from June - September 2019. A total of 366 traders were interviewed. Data was collected electronically using Kobo-Collect then analysed using Microsoft Excel to generate chi square analysis. The study found a skewed distribution of men and women in management with men dominating at 61%. In addition to male dominance, men in authority enforce regulations differently for women through intimidation and negative attitudes. A chi square analysis where P = .001 confirms that women significantly spend more time than men when meeting regulations. The study concludes that women bear the brunt of regulations that are not gender sensitive necessitating sensitization efforts towards the same. Informal food markets are critical for urban food security and female livelihoods therefore revitalization of the regulations governing them is key to urban food security.
Journal of Food Security. 2021, 9(1), 19-24. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-9-1-3
Pub. Date: January 19, 2021
2724 Views3 Downloads
by I.C. Esobi, M. K. Lasode, C. I Anyanwu, M.O Flores Barriguete, M. A. Okorie and D.O Lasode
Original Research
Apart from clinical and epidemiological factors, a multitude of demographic, social, and economic factors also influence the extent of the coronavirus disease prevalence within a population. Consequently, there is ongoing discourse regarding the socio-economic predictors of COVID-19. This study explores the influence of several demographic and socio-economic variables on COVID-19 cases in all 46 counties of South Carolina, USA as of October 18, 2020. To understand the level of association between the demographic and socio-economic variables with the coronavirus disease outcome, we employed a spatial mapping technique in a geographic information system (GIS) to assess social vulnerabilities of populations dependent on public assistance income and spatially compared the distribution with COVID-19 cases across the 46 counties in South Carolina, USA. We find that dependence on food stamps showed a positive but weak correlation to COVID-19. For individual variables, Age and poverty were strongly associated with dependence on public assistance and were determined to be major predictors of COVID-19. Social vulnerability assessment showed an interesting spatial pattern of counties with high prevalence of COVID-19 cases also having high social vulnerabilities. The results complement knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic beyond clinical and biological risk factors by assessing socio-economic perspectives and determinants. Findings from this study can inform policy decisions on poverty alleviation, public assistance, and food security programs.
Journal of Food Security. 2021, 9(1), 8-18. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-9-1-2
Pub. Date: December 28, 2020
4273 Views7 Downloads
by Paul Otieno Opiyo, Stephen Gaya Agong, Frankline Otiende Awuor and Munira Gilani
Review Article
The 21st Century has witnessed a rapid growth in global population characterised by an increasing proportion of urban dwellers. While feeding this growing urban population is a challenge, estimates indicate that one-third of all food produced in the world gets lost or wasted. This study, premised on the FAO conceptual framework of food loss and food waste, sought to identify the linkages between urban dynamics and the causes of food loss and waste along the food supply chain. The study involved data mining, review, thematic analysis and integration of both primary and secondary data from three research projects conducted in Kisumu by Kisumu Local Interaction Platform (KLIP). The study found that Kisumu city and the wider county is deficient in food production; more than 65% of the city population resides in informal settlements, with inadequate infrastructure and services; and food insecurity is prevalent. Though accurate quantitative data was not available on the food lost at the various stages of the supply chain, food losses were noted at the all stages. Food losses at production and post harvest handling stages were caused by flooding, pests, and contamination. Food losses during processing were minimal due to fewer food processing industries in the city. Most food products from small scale producers were transported via public road transport, often without proper packaging leading to physical damage and contamination. At the market stage, inadequacy of food storage and preservation facilities led to food losses. At the consumption stage, food waste was low due to poverty as households generally buy smaller amounts of food on a day to day basis. However, some food is wasted in restaurants patronized by middle and upper income segments of the population. Reducing loss and waste across the food value chain can contribute to improving food and nutrition security.
Journal of Food Security. 2021, 9(1), 1-7. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-9-1-1
Pub. Date: December 08, 2020
2898 Views141 Downloads