A study has revealed that food insecurity disproportionately affects children under five, largely because of their high nutrient requirements for rapid growth and development.
The research explored the link between women’s caregiving responsibilities, particularly feeding under five children, and household food security, measured through dietary diversity.
Findings showed that in many low-income households, young children are often fed the same monotonous diets as adults, rather than receiving meals tailored to their nutritional needs.
In Ghana, caregiving for under-five children, including feeding and postnatal care, is predominantly performed by women, especially mothers.
While this role is vital, the study indicates it also places additional pressure on rural households already struggling with under-nutrition.
Using advanced econometric methods such as the Two-Stage Least Square (2SLS) estimator, the researchers found that household income significantly influences food security, with stronger effects than previously estimated.
They further observed that participation in buffer stock operations positively impacts household dietary diversity.
The study also identified household size, gender, and marital status of the household head as key factors shaping food security outcomes.
The researchers, including the Faculty of Agriculture’s Dr. Bright O. Asante and Dr. Camillus A. Wongnaa, recommend strengthening farmers’ incomes through marketing programmes like buffer stock, alongside nutrition education for women, to improve household food security.
They also highlight the need to integrate family planning and maternal nutrition policies to better support mothers in their caregiving roles.
The study was published in the Journal of Cogent Food and Agriculture.
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