TY - JOUR

T1 - Factors affecting food security in women enrolled in a program for vulnerable group development

AU - Khanam, Mansura

AU - Ara, Gulshan

AU - Rahman, Ahmed Shafiqur

AU - Islam, Zhahirul

AU - Farhad, Shahriar

AU - Khan, Sihan Sadat

AU - Sanin, Kazi Istiaque

AU - Rahman, Mohammad Mahbobor

AU - Majoor, Herma

AU - Ahmed, Tahmeed

N1 - Publisher Copyright: Copyright © The Author(s) 2020.

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Background: Food security is defined as physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet the dietary requirements for a productive and healthy life. Evidence from the literature suggests that >800 million people worldwide are food insecure. Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) is the largest social safety net of the Government of Bangladesh targeting ultra-poor women to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore the factors associated with food security among VGD women in Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 870 women (435/group) participated in the baseline survey and another 800 women (400/group) participated in the endline survey. Participants in the intervention group received monthly rations of 30 kg fortified rice (FFR) and the control group received 30 kg of non-FFR for 12 mo. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to establish both crude and confounder-adjusted relations between the primary outcome and response variables. Written consent was proved by study participants. This study (PR-14091) was approved by the Research Review Committee and Ethical Review Committee. Results: Severe food insecurity in the endline survey decreased from ∼50% to 6.3% in both groups. The hunger scale also improved between the baseline and endline survey. More than 97% of respondents at endline reported no hunger compared with 80% at baseline; only 3% of women in both groups reported moderate hunger at endline. Multivariable regression model showed that ownership of a house and land for agriculture, wealth index (richest quintile), and absence of fever were significantly associated with food security (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our analysis shows that the VGD rice distribution program significantly improves the food security status of vulnerable women; however, ownership of a house and land for agriculture were the most significant factors associated with household food security in VGD program areas of Bangladesh.

AB - Background: Food security is defined as physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet the dietary requirements for a productive and healthy life. Evidence from the literature suggests that >800 million people worldwide are food insecure. Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) is the largest social safety net of the Government of Bangladesh targeting ultra-poor women to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore the factors associated with food security among VGD women in Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 870 women (435/group) participated in the baseline survey and another 800 women (400/group) participated in the endline survey. Participants in the intervention group received monthly rations of 30 kg fortified rice (FFR) and the control group received 30 kg of non-FFR for 12 mo. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to establish both crude and confounder-adjusted relations between the primary outcome and response variables. Written consent was proved by study participants. This study (PR-14091) was approved by the Research Review Committee and Ethical Review Committee. Results: Severe food insecurity in the endline survey decreased from ∼50% to 6.3% in both groups. The hunger scale also improved between the baseline and endline survey. More than 97% of respondents at endline reported no hunger compared with 80% at baseline; only 3% of women in both groups reported moderate hunger at endline. Multivariable regression model showed that ownership of a house and land for agriculture, wealth index (richest quintile), and absence of fever were significantly associated with food security (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our analysis shows that the VGD rice distribution program significantly improves the food security status of vulnerable women; however, ownership of a house and land for agriculture were the most significant factors associated with household food security in VGD program areas of Bangladesh.

KW - Assessment

KW - Food insecurity

KW - Food security

KW - Social safety net

KW - Women

U2 - 10.1093/cdn/nzaa037

DO - 10.1093/cdn/nzaa037

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85083992957

VL - 4

JO - Current Developments in Nutrition

JF - Current Developments in Nutrition

SN - 2475-2991

IS - 4

M1 - nzaa037

ER -