Link between structural risk factors for adverse impacts of COVID-19 and food insecurity in developed and developing countries

Abstract

COVID-19 has had serious consequences for world food security; lockdowns and social distancing have led to changes in global food value chains, primarily affecting the poorest of the planet. The aim of this research is to analyse the relationship between food insecurity and the structural risk factors for adverse impacts of COVID-19. To that end, 12 contingency tables are constructed to identify the association between the pillars of the food insecurity index and the INFORM COVID-19 Risk Index. We use the Gamma coefficient as a measure of association. In addition, this paper proposes a synthetic index produced by applying the TOPSIS method, using the pillars of the two aforementioned indices (criteria) to establish a ranking of 112 countries (alternatives) ordered from highest to lowest risk faced in the key year of the pandemic, 2020. The results show that the two problems are connected, indicating to international organizations that countries with worse food insecurity will suffer more serious consequences from extreme situations such as the one experienced during the pandemic. The ranking established directs international organizations' attention to countries such as Haiti, Zambia and Burundi, highlighting their greater need for an injection of financial aid than other emerging economies. Conversely, Switzerland is the country with the lowest combined risk.

Disruptions in Livelihoods, Healthcare Access and Health Outcomes in West Africa During Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks

“…The observed increase in ‘Once Daily’ meal frequencies across all countries examined suggests a region-wide shift in dietary patterns due to the outbreak’s impact, echoing the findings of global health crises in the literature(Hendriks et al ., 2022; Koyratty et al ., 2022, 2022; Marti and Puertas, 2022; Lewis et al ., 2023). The significant reduction in ‘Thrice Daily’ meals is consistent with patterns observed in food-scarce situations elsewhere in the world(González-Monroy et al ., 2021).…”

The Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Households in Punjab, Pakistan

“…It significantly impacted global food security, as social distancing and lockdowns disrupted the food supply, especially in vulnerable economies. However, developed economies have sufficient resources to counter food insecurity during a pandemic (Marti and Puertas, 2022). During the pandemic, it was difficult to forecast the duration of the pandemic and the impact of the economic crisis on households due to uncertainty about "stay-at-home" instructions (Martin et al, 2020).…”