scholarly journals Do Urban Food Deserts Exist in the Global South? An Analysis of Nairobi and Mexico City

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Wagner ◽  
Lucy Hinton ◽  
Cameron McCordic ◽  
Samuel Owuor ◽  
Guénola Capron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Food Deserts ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Global South ◽  
Food Desert ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Household Survey Data

Recent conceptualizations of ‘food deserts’ have expanded from a sole focus on access to supermarkets, to food retail outlets, to all household food sources. Each iteration of the urban food desert concept has associated this kind of food sourcing behavior to poverty, food insecurity, and dietary diversity characteristics. While the term continues to evolve, there has been little empirical evidence to test whether these assumed associations hold in cities of the Global South. This paper empirically tests the premises of three iterations of the urban food desert concept using household survey data collected in Nairobi, Kenya, and Mexico City, Mexico. While these associations are statistically significant and show the expected correlation direction between household food sourcing behavior and food security, the strength of these relationships tends to be weak. These findings indicate that the urban food desert concept developed in North American and UK cities may have limited relevance to measuring urban food insecurity in the Global South.

scholarly journals Food insecurity among Iraqi refugees living in Lebanon, 10 years after the invasion of Iraq: data from a household survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hala Ghattas ◽  
AnnieBelle J. Sassine ◽  
Karin Seyfert ◽  
Mark Nord ◽  
Nadine R. Sahyoun
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Housing Quality ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Iraqi Refugees ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Invasion Of Iraq

Iraqi refugees in Lebanon are vulnerable to food insecurity because of their limited rights and fragile livelihoods. The objective of the present study was to assess household food insecurity among Iraqi refugees living in Lebanon, almost 10 years after the invasion of Iraq. A representative survey of 800 UN High Commissioner for Refugees-registered refugee households in Lebanon was conducted using multi-stage cluster random sampling. We measured food insecurity using a modified US Department of Agriculture household food security module. We collected data on household demographic, socio-economic, health, housing and dietary diversity status and analysed these factors by food security status. Hb level was measured in a subset of children below 5 years of age (n 85). Weighted data were used in univariate and multivariate analyses. Among the Iraqi refugee households surveyed (n 630), 20·1 % (95 % CI 17·3, 23·2) were found to be food secure, 35·5 % (95 % CI 32·0, 39·2) moderately food insecure and 44·4 % (95 % CI 40·8, 48·1) severely food insecure. Severe food insecurity was associated with the respondent's good self-reported health (OR 0·3, 95 % CI 0·2, 0·5), length of stay as a refugee (OR 1·1, 95 % CI 1·0, 1·2), very poor housing quality (OR 3·3, 95 % CI 1·6, 6·5) and the number of children in the household (OR 1·2, 95 % CI 1·0, 1·4), and resulted in poor dietary diversity (P< 0·0001). Anaemia was found in 41 % (95 % CI 30·6, 51·9) of children below 5 years of age, but was not associated with food insecurity. High food insecurity, low diet quality and high prevalence of anaemia in Iraqi refugees living in Lebanon call for urgent programmes to address the food and health situation of this population with restricted rights.

scholarly journals Family Structure and Severe Food Insecurity in Maputo and Matola, Mozambique

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
McCordic ◽  
Abrahamo
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Family Structure ◽  
Food Deserts ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
The Family ◽  
Two Cities ◽  
Access To Water ◽  
Household Survey Data ◽  
Nuclear Household

The rapid growth of Maputo and Matola (neighbouring cities in Mozambique) has dramatically shifted the vulnerability profiles of these cities. Poor neighbourhoods across these two cities may now face the prospect of becoming food deserts. Scholars have defined African urban food deserts by the co-occurrence of poverty and food insecurity. This study aims to assess the assumed relationship between resource poverty and food insecurity in the African urban food desert concept and to assess the contribution of household demographics to this relationship. Using household survey data collected in 2014 across Maputo and Matola, this investigation demonstrated that inconsistent access to water, electricity, medical care, cooking fuel, and cash was associated with increased odds of severe household food insecurity across both cities. In addition, a nuclear household family structure was associated with reduced odds of severe food insecurity in both cities (even when taking limited resource access into account). These findings suggest that the severe food insecurity vulnerabilities associated with African urban food deserts may differ according to the family structure of households in Maputo and Matola.

Nutritional Status Among School-Age Children of Bangladeshi Tea Garden Workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 424-429
Author(s):  
Mohd Shamim Iqbal ◽  
Amanda C. Palmer ◽  
Jillian Waid ◽  
S. M. Mustafizur Rahman ◽  
Md. M. Islam Bulbul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
World Health ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
School Age ◽  
The Past ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Plasma Retinol

Background: While considerable progress has been made in reducing undernutrition in Bangladesh, regional disparities are known to exist, and certain population subgroups may lag behind. Objective: To characterize nutritional status among school-age children in a historically marginalized population of Bangladesh. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional assessment of children attending 14 nongovernmental organization-operated schools serving the tea estate population in Kulaura Upazila, Sylhet Division. We randomly selected 168 children from a population of 418 whose parents attended school-organized Parent–Teacher Association meetings. Parents provided consent and data on household food consumption in the past week, foods consumed by children in the past 24 hours, and household food insecurity. We drew venous blood from assenting children for the analysis of hemoglobin and plasma retinol, C-reactive protein, and α1-acid glycoprotein. Children were classified as stunted, underweight, or thin based on comparisons with the World Health Organization standards for height-for-age, weight-for-age, or body mass index-for-age, respectively. Results: Food insecurity was highly prevalent, with ∼85% of households affected. Roughly half of children had low dietary diversity. Prevalence estimates for stunting, underweight, and thinness were 32%, 50%, and 49%, respectively. Approximately 60% of children had a hemoglobin concentration <11 g/dL. The mean (±SD) plasma retinol concentration was 0.79 μmol/L (±0.23 μmol/L), with 34% deficient using a 0.70 μmol/L cutoff. Conclusions: A heightened focus on tracking progress in underserved populations and appropriately targeted programming will be critical as Bangladesh seeks to accelerate progress toward global development goals for nutrition.

scholarly journals Agricultural Food Production Diversity and Dietary Diversity among Female Small Holder Farmers in a Region of the Ecuadorian Andes Experiencing Nutrition Transition

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2454
Author(s):  
Christopher L Melby ◽  
Fadya Orozco ◽  
Jenni Averett ◽  
Fabián Muñoz ◽  
Maria José Romero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Small Holder Farmers ◽  
Production Diversity ◽  
Small Holder ◽  
Agricultural Food

Some rural areas of Ecuador, including the Imbabura Province of the Andes Highlands, are experiencing a double burden of malnutrition where micronutrient deficiencies persist at the same time obesity is increasing as many traditional home-grown foods are being replaced with more commercially prepared convenience foods. Thus, the relationships among agricultural food production diversity (FPD), dietary diversity (DD), and household food insecurity (HFI) of the rural small holder farmers need further study. Therefore, we examined these associations in small holder farmers residing in this Province in the Andes Highlands (elevation > 2500 m). Non-pregnant maternal home managers (n = 558, x age = 44.1, SD = 16.5 y) were interviewed regarding the number of different agricultural food crops cultivated and domestic animals raised in their family farm plots. DD was determined using the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women Score (MDD-W) based on the number of 10 different food groups consumed, and household food insecurity (HFI) was determined using the 8-item Household Food Insecurity Experience Scale. The women reported consuming an average of 53% of their total food from what they cultivated or raised. Women with higher DD [MMD-W score ≥ 5 food groups (79% of total sample)] were on farms that cultivated a greater variety of crops (x = 8.7 vs. 6.7), raised more animals (x = 17.9 vs. 12.7, p < 0.05), and reported lower HFI and significantly higher intakes of energy, protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin A (all p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that FPD was only modestly related to DD, which together with years of education, per capita family income, and HFI accounted for 26% of DD variance. In rural areas of the Imbabura Province, small holder farmers still rely heavily on consumption of self-cultivated foods, but greater diversity of crops grown in family farm plots is only weakly associated with greater DD and lower HFI among the female caretakers.

Household food insecurity but not dietary diversity is associated with children's mean micronutrient density adequacy in rural communities across Ghana

Nutrition ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Kobina Christian ◽  
Grace S. Marquis ◽  
Esi K. Colecraft ◽  
Anna Lartey ◽  
Rula Soueida
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Food

scholarly journals Household Food Insecurity, Dietary Diversity, Stunting, and Anaemia among Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of China

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (23) ◽  
pp. 4778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang ◽  
Yuan ◽  
Yang ◽  
Zou ◽  
Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Nutritional Intervention ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Hunan Province ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Household Food

Left-behind children (LBC) are a newly emerged social group in China. Poor nutritional status is particularly prominent in this population. However, their food insecurity tends to attract very little attention. This study aims to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and undernutrition (stunting and anaemia) in 3 to 5-year-old LBC in rural China. Face-to-face interviews were administered to 553 LBC caregivers in 40 rural villages of Hunan Province, China. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess household food insecurity (HFI). Dietary diversity score (DDS) and food group consumption frequency were measured by 24 h-recall and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Hemoglobin tests and anthropometric measurements including height and weight were measured by trained health professionals. Logistic regression was constructed to assess the association between household food insecurity and dietary diversity, stunting, and anaemia. A high prevalence of household food insecurity was determined (67.6%). The weighted prevalence of stunting and anaemia were 16.6% and 26.5%, respectively. Food insecurity was positively associate with LBC stunting (severe HFI: OR = 6.50, 95% CI: 2.81, 15.00; moderate HFI: OR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.60, 7.54), and anaemia (severe HFI: OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.57). LBC with food insecurity had significantly lower dietary diversity than those who were food-secure (p < 0.001). The prevalence of household food insecurity among LBC in poor rural China is high and is associated with low DDS, stunting, and anaemia. Nutritional intervention programs and policies are urgently needed to reduce household food insecurity and undernutrition for this vulnerable population.

scholarly journals Contribution of forest foods to dietary intake and their association with household food insecurity: a cross-sectional study in women from rural Cameroon

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (17) ◽  
pp. 3185-3196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Fungo ◽  
John Muyonga ◽  
Margaret Kabahenda ◽  
Archileo Kaaya ◽  
Clement A Okia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Nutrient Intakes ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Forest Foods

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the contribution of forest foods to dietary intake and estimate their association with household food insecurity.DesignCross-sectional survey conducted among 279 households. Using a 7 d recall questionnaire, information on household food consumption was collected from women and used to determine the household dietary diversity score, food variety score and forest food consumption score (FFCS). Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) score was determined and Spearman rank correlation was used to establish the relationship between consumption of forest foods and HFIAS score. Women’s dietary intake was estimated from two 24 h recalls. The contribution of forest foods to women’s nutrient intakes was calculated and women’s nutrient intakes were compared with estimated average nutrient requirements.SettingRural forest-dependent households in twelve villages in eastern and southern Cameroon.SubjectsHousehold heads and their non-pregnant, non-lactating spouses.ResultsForty-seven unique forest foods were identified; of these, seventeen were consumed by 98 % of respondents over the course of one week and by 17 % of women during the two 24 h recall periods. Although forest foods contributed approximately half of women’s total daily energy intake, considerably greater contributions were made to vitamin A (93 %), Na (100 %), Fe (85 %), Zn (88 %) and Ca (89 %) intakes. Despite a highly biodiverse pool of foods, most households (83 %) suffered from high food insecurity based on the HFIAS. A significant inverse correlation was observed between the HFIAS score and the FFCS (r2=−0·169, P=0·0006), demonstrating that forest foods play an important role in ensuring food security in these forest-dependent communities.ConclusionsForest foods are widely consumed by forest-dependent communities. Given their rich nutrient content, they have potential to contribute to food and nutrition security.

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