Toward Improved Understanding of Food Security

Abstract

Accurate measurement of household food security is essential to generate adequate information on the proportion of households experiencing food insecurity, especially in regions vulnerable to food shortages and famine. This paper offers a methodological examination of three commonly used indicators of household food security—experience of hunger, dietary diversity and coping strategies. Making use of data from the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in rural South Africa, we examine the association between the indicators themselves to improve understanding of the different insight offered by each food-security “lens.” We also examine how the choice of indicator shapes the profile of vulnerable households, with results suggesting that dietary diversity scores may not adequately capture broader food insecurity. The concluding discussion explores programmatic and policy implications as related to methodological choices.

Keywords:

• food security
• food insecurity
• food-security measurement
• Agincourt
• coping strategies
• dietary diversity
• hunger

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tracy M. Kirkland

Tracy M. Kirkland is a PhD student studying environmental sociology. Department of Sociology and the Institute of Behavioral Science Environment & Society Program, University of Colorado at Boulder, 327 UCB Boulder, CO 80309–0327, USA ([email protected]).

Robert J. Kemp

Robert J. Kemp is a PhD student studying demography. Department of Sociology and the Institute of Behavioral Science Population Program, University of Colorado at Boulder, 327 UCB Boulder, CO 80309–0327, USA ([email protected]).

Lori M. Hunter

Lori M. Hunter is Associate Professor of Sociology and Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder; Faculty Research Associate at the Institute of Behavioral Science Research Programs on Population, Environment & Society; and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the MRC/Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand. University of Colorado at Boulder, 468 UCB Boulder, CO 80309–0468, USA ([email protected]).

Wayne M. Twine

Wayne Twine is a senior lecturer in the School of Animal, Plant & Environmental Sciences, University of Witwatersrand. Wits Rural Facility, Private Bag X420, Acornhoek 1360, South Africa ([email protected]).