Preparing for COVID-19: Household food insecurity and vulnerability to shocks in Nairobi, Kenya

Onyango, Elizabeth Opiyo; Crush, Jonathan; Owuor, Samuel

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0259139

Cited by 21 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The results showed that the head's gender was directly associated with food security and dietary diversity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other scholars have also reported a female-headed households were more likely prone to food insecurity ( 59 ). The female-headed households faced challenges such as lower-income, limited access to capital, land ownership, market, and new technologies ( 60 , 61 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Household heads put the food security situation of the family in a favorable position through the income from the income-generating activities. Some studies have shown a direct relationship between the income of household heads (in the agricultural and nonagricultural sectors) and food security ( 59 , 69 – 71 ). High-income household heads are more likely to use food-based coping strategies during the COVID-19 epidemic to improve household nutrition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Security and Food Diversity of Iranian Rural Households

Movahed

Fard

Gholamrezai

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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With the onset of the coronavirus crisis, disruption of the domestic food supply chain, loss of revenue, and payments that affect food production have led to severe tensions and food security risks in many developing countries. The rural communities are more at risk of food insecurity due to less access to healthcare and social inequality. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security and food diversity of rural households. The sample included 375 household heads living in the rural areas of Khorramabad county, which was determined using a three-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using standard Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) questionnaires. The results showed that the food security situation of rural households has deteriorated, and consumption of some food groups changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the multinomial regression model showed that gender, level of education, monthly income, number of employed members, nutrition knowledge, employment status, livestock ownership, and access to credit were significantly associated with the food security of households during the COVID-19 pandemic. The household head's gender, level of education, monthly income, nutrition knowledge, employment status, livestock ownership, and access to credit were significantly associated with dietary diversity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the findings, providing emergency food assistance and cash payments to food-insecure households can reduce the risk of food insecurity in rural households. It is suggested that government policies focus on identifying vulnerable households in rural areas, especially female-headed households, low-income households, and households without a wage income.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Security and Food Diversity of Iranian Rural Households

Movahed

Fard

Gholamrezai

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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“…The primary asset that ameliorates the food insecurity of urban households is urban-rural social networks since migrants to cities do not generally or immediately cut their links with rural homes. Food transfers and food remittances from rural areas are particularly important for food-insecure urban households (Onyango et al, 2021). There is evidence that urban households in Africa rely to varying degrees on an informal, non-marketed supply of food from their rural (and urban) relatives in order to survive within hostile urban environments.…”

Section: Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Megatrends in Africa: Implications for food in urban high-density areas with special focus on Nairobi and Cape Town

Mausch¹,

McMullin²,

Karanja³

2022

Preprint

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The world is and has been continuously changing and adjusting. Some changes are positive, some are negative. It is important to be aware of emerging changes in order to mitigate negative effects and amplify positive effects. Some of the major current trends are: urbanization, migration, climate change, population growth, biodiversity loss as well as the emergence of pandemics such as COVID 19. All of these trends affect food systems in several ways. A clear understanding of the implications is critical when considering how food systems can be strengthened and made more resilient to withstand the impacts of these trends.Climate change is threatening all aspects of food security. Low- and middle-income countries are projected to be affected to the largest extent. Yield reduction and price increases further increase the incentives to expand production into forest and grasslands which would in turn accelerate climate change. Urban food supply chains will have to adjust to shifting regional supplies and increasingly erratic volumes. Heat and water stress will further amplify the negative human health effects especially in densely populated areas. Biodiversity could be a crucial contributor to improved food system outcomes, yet it is continuously degraded. Many valuable plant species are already threatened and population growth, urbanization, climate change and current market forces increase the pressures on habitats for biodiversity. Direct threats also emerge from current food production systems that contribute to degradation through heavy use of chemical pesticides and fertilizer.Current food systems are already failing to deliver for the poor, contribute to environmental degradation, and fail to withstand disruptions such as the effects of COVID 19. Around 66% of Africans already face food insecurity. The population is projected to double by 2060 and food supply will need to change, diversify and increase drastically in order to overcome the current and emerging challenges. Here, the supply to urban residents will be most critical as urban populations will triple by 2050 and already by 2030, half of the population will reside in cities. With the majority of the population increase likely being absorbed by informal settlements, these areas will require attention to ensure they are made more resilient, to buffer the worst impacts. Food system trends towards more processed, and less nutritious foods are already negatively impacting different segments of populations with the coexistence of multiple forms of malnutrition, and increasing diet associated with non-communicable diseases. Therefore, alternative systems will have to be developed in order to avoid increasing health problems.While focusing on solving or mitigating the acute problems, we need to ensure a clear vision towards a more resilient, sustainable and equitable (food) future that is able to address the needs of all segments of society. The reports of EAT Lancet, the HLPE, the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition and UNICEF are recent examples that highlight the needs and pathways towards this goal. Yet, there remain critical knowledge gaps for action that need to be addressed. Food choice motives are highly complex and interact with other needs and strategies. These are often context specific and generalization remains difficult, with limited evidence in low-and middle-income countries Hence a clear understanding of local contexts, and socio-cultural dynamics remains crucial for understanding, and devising suitable interventions that will respond to consumer needs and behaviour, for better food, nutrition and well-being outcomes. Furthermore, the food system itself and its mechanics have yet to be fully explored when it comes to interventions, particularly the parts which connect rural-producers and urban- consumers, and supporting and enabling food environment. While at the abstract and aggregate level there have been significant advances, the implications for local interventions have to be explored in more detail to avoid negative consequences or spillovers.Overall, clarity on intervention logic, design and monitoring will have to be ensured in order to truly advance the functioning of the food system for all and especially for vulnerable people that are currently ill served.

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“…19 Pre-pandemic data found 29% of households in Nairobi to be completely food insecure, with economic shock due to loss of employment as the main driver of food insecurity, highlighting concerning impacts of COVID-induced widespread job loss on households. 21 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gendered time use during COVID-19 among adolescents and young adults in Nairobi, Kenya

et al. 2022

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Preparing for COVID-19: Household food insecurity and vulnerability to shocks in Nairobi, Kenya

Cited by 21 publications

References 29 publications

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Security and Food Diversity of Iranian Rural Households

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Security and Food Diversity of Iranian Rural Households

Megatrends in Africa: Implications for food in urban high-density areas with special focus on Nairobi and Cape Town

Gendered time use during COVID-19 among adolescents and young adults in Nairobi, Kenya

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