A study has revealed that food insecurity disproportionately affects children under five due to their high nutritional needs for growth and development.
The research examined how women’s caregiving responsibilities, particularly feeding young children, influence household food security measured through dietary diversity.
The study used cross-sectional data from 305 smallholder farmers in rural areas in Ghana.
Findings showed that in many low-income households, children under five are often fed the same monotonous meals consumed by adults instead of diets specifically suited to their nutritional requirements.
The researchers also found that household income plays a significant role in determining food security, with stronger effects than previously estimated.
Other factors influencing food security included household size, gender, and the marital status of the household head.
The researchers, including the Faculty of Agriculture’s Dr. Bright O. Asante and Dr. Camillus A. Wongnaa, recommended improving farmers’ incomes through marketing interventions such as buffer stock programmes, alongside nutrition education for women to enhance household food security.
They further called for the integration of family planning and maternal nutrition policies to better support mothers in their caregiving responsibilities.
The study was published in the journal Cogent Food and Agriculture.
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