JOURNAL ARTICLE

Food Insecurity and Coping Strategies among Elderly Headed Households in Selected Semi-rural Areas in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

  • Published In: African Journal of Development Studies, 2023, v. 13, n. 4. P. 289 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Bavum, Sive; Obioha, Emeka; Mugari, Ishmael 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on food insecurity and coping strategies among elderly-headed households in selected semi-rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey of 138 respondents, the study found that despite South Africa's national food security, many elderly households experience food insecurity characterized by worries about food sufficiency, eating fewer or smaller meals, and consuming less preferred or less expensive foods. The primary coping mechanisms identified include limiting portion sizes, eating less preferred foods, and relying on cheaper food options. The study recommends policy interventions such as increasing social grants for the elderly, investing in irrigation infrastructure, and providing farming input subsidies to enhance rural household food sufficiency.

Additional Information

  • Source:African Journal of Development Studies. 2023/12, Vol. 13, Issue 4, p289
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Health and Medicine
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:2634-3630
  • DOI:10.31920/2634-3649/2023/v13n4a14
  • Accession Number:174221640
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of African Journal of Development Studies is the property of Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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