Beschreibung:
Despite making significant economic progress, food insecurity and malnutrition present key policy challenges in Benin. We analyzed the determinants of food insecurity in northern Benin, based on primary data that we collected from 368 randomly selected households from 4 villages of Kalalé district in 2007. Food insecurity was defined as how often in the year they are unable to fully provide for family's food needs. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association of demographic and socio‐economic factors on food insecurity. Food insecurity was prevalent in the district surveyed (96%) categorized as moderately or severely food insecure. Using bivariate analysis, key livelihood assets indicators associated household food insecurity were identified as: number of illiterate in households (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.14‐2.70; P=0.01), family size (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.99‐2.69; P=0.04), self‐reported satisfaction with health status (OR, 4.63; 95% CI, 2.61‐8.20; P<0.001), housing material (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01‐0.60; P=0.01), participation in agricultural organization (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.82‐5.81; P<0.01) and access to credit (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.82‐5.81; P<0.001). Access to credit and housing material were the strongest predictors of food insecurity in multivariate modeling (P<0.05). Food insecurity is a timely and relevant issue, as it affects a significant number of households in the district surveyed. Targeted policy interventions aimed at increasing money available in households are needed. Furthermore, making health, family planning, education and agricultural organization which bond women together, targets of food security programs should help significantly to reduce the incidence of food insecurity.Grant Funding Source: SELF