Household food access and coping strategies adopted during Covid-19 pandemic lockdown among people residing in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Confinement to flatten curves as a protective measure against the novel corona-virus had made it very difficult for the citizens to have sufficient food to sustain themselves.

Objective: This study assessed household's food accessibility and coping strategies adopted during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Methods: The study was cross-sectional design and 300 households were randomly selected in the Local Government. Data such as socio-demographic, household food insecurity status, and coping strategies were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire, Household food insecurity experience scale, and coping strategies index scale questionnaire. Data were analysed and presented using descriptive and

Results: The age of the respondents was between 20-59 years and 60.3% were traders. Food security status showed that 15.7%,50%,14.3% and 20.0% of the respondents were food secure, severely, mildly, and moderately food insecure respectively. The major coping strategies adopted were relied on less preferred and less expensive foods(35%), limited portion size at mealtimes(31.3%), and reduced number of meals eaten in a day(34.3%). A significant association exists between Coping Strategy categories and food security status (P = 0.00). The result on the nutritional status of the respondents revealed that 51.3%, 11.3%, 25.3%, 12%, 59.7%, 14.3% and 32.4% had normal BMI, underweight, overweight, obese, stunted, wasted, and underweight respectively.

Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity was high and most households adopted coping strategies that leads to higher levels of food insecurity.