Spending Patterns Of Food Insecure Households In A Low Income Neighborhood In South Africa

Abstract

Food security can be defined as a state in which all people in a household at all times have both physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet their dietary needs for a productive and healthy life. Household food insecurity has been associated in the last decade with several negative health and nutrition outcomes. In this regard South Africa food insecurity was no exception. Food insecurity and the negative consequences thereof may worsen nutritional status of households and the severity of poverty. The question however arises: To what extent do food insecure households spend income to secure adequate food consumption?. This study analysed food security of households, and analyse the spending patterns of these households. A quantitative research method was deployed and a stratified random sample of 295 was undertaken in the township of Bophelong, a low income neighbourhood in Southern Gauteng, South Africa. Following the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, households were classified into food secure and insecure. The spending patterns of food insecure households were then analysed. Conclusions are then drawn whether households who are classified as food insecure spend significantly enough on food.