Determination of the factors affecting the food security status of households in Bophelong, South Africa

Abstract

This study investigates the food security status of households in the township of Bophelong, South Africa. The results are based on a household survey using questionnaires. A Logistic regression model was estimated based on this data with the household food security status (that is food secure and insecure) as the dependent variable and a set of demographic variables as explanatory variables. It was found that about 26 percent of the sampled households are food secure. Further analysis identified household income, household size, marital status, employment status, age and gender of the household head as important determinants of food security. While other variables of importance positively influenced food security, household size and the marital status of the household head were negatively associated with household food security. The educational attainment of the household head was not important in explaining the variation in household food security status. Information provided by this study can be used as a reference source for policy decisions regarding household food security in South Africa.