1.Food security status of households with children aged 0-10 in an urban poor community in Quezon City, Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic
Renaeus Arlchristian Rualdo D. Torres ; Beatrice Ysabel G. Dy ; Ralph Alexander T. Flores ; Eryn M. Kiunisala ; Ramon Raphael M. Montierro ; Kim Leonard G. Dela Luna
Philippine Journal of Health Research and Development 2023;27(4):37-46
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects such as community restrictions, lockdowns, and
unemployment have greatly affected the household food security status in urban poor communities leading to poor accessibility of sufficient nutritious food and subsequently affecting the nutrition of children.
Objectives:
This present study aims to determine the prevalence of household food insecurity in households
with children aged 0-10 amid the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban poor community in Quezon City.
Methodology:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was done to evaluate the food security status and
experiences of households amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results:
A total of 405 households were surveyed to answer questions designed to determine their general
profile relative to their food security experiences during the pandemic. It was observed that the majority of
the households in the urban poor community belong to Class D earning between PhP 8,001.00 - PhP
15,000.00. The heads of these households as well as caregivers mostly belong to the high school graduate level. Based on the conducted survey, it was revealed that 59.5% of the households were severely food insecure (90% CI: 55.4-63.4) and only 4.2% ( 90% CI: 2.8-6.2) were food secure.
Conclusion
The prevalence of food insecurity in the urban poor community is determined to be high, with
31.6% households having moderate food insecurity, while only 4.2% households are food secure. The majority of surveyed households were anxious and uncertain about their food supply, and also reported experiencing varying levels of food insecurity related to sufficiency of food quality.
COVID-19
2.Coping strategies to achieve food security among households with children in an urban poor community in Quezon City during COVID-19
Eryn M. Kiunisala ; Beatrice Ysabel G. Dy ; Ralph Alexander T. Flores ; Ramon Raphael M. Montierro ; Renaeus Arlchristian Rualdo D. Torres ; Kim Leonard G. Dela Luna ; Ernani R. Bullecer
Acta Medica Philippina 2024;58(Early Access 2024):1-9
Background:
In the Philippines, the prevalence of food insecurity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting the nutritional status of communities nationwide. Urban areas in particular are vulnerable to the harmful effects of food insecurity, and the effects are extended and magnified when it comes to children.
Objectives:
This study aims to evaluate the coping strategies of households with children aged 0-10 years old in an urban poor community in Quezon City. In particular, the study will determine Coping Strategies Index (CSI) scores and the frequency of specific coping strategies used.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the coping strategies of 405 households
with children in the community during the pandemic. Mothers or caregivers were given a survey inquiring about the sociodemographic data and CSI.
Results:
Sociodemographic profiling showed that the households generally belonged to class D and E (PhP 15,000 and below) income households (73.8%). The majority of the household heads (52.6%) have their highest educational attainment at the high school level.
The majority (77.5%) of the households were categorized as having low CSI classification (90%CI: 73.9, 80.8).
This could indicate that relief operations conducted in the community may have helped ease their food insecurity. Coping strategies that were most frequently employed by the households were depending on less preferred or more affordable food (74.8%), rationing money for prepared food (69.1%), and purchasing food on credit (58.5%).
Conclusion
Low CSI classification was noted, which may be due to increased adaptation to persistent food insecurity and the utilization of coping strategies not indicated in the questionnaire. Common coping strategies used by households include reliance on less favored or less costly food items, rationing resources for prepared food, and food on credit. It is recommended that the results collected be used to target food availability and accessibility interventions in the community.
Food Insecurity
;
Adaptation, Psychological