COVID- 19 and human right to food: lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya with the impacts of government’s response measures, a participatory qualitative study
Abstract Background Globally, governments put in place measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Information on the effects of these measures on the urban poor is limited. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya in the context of government’s COVID-19 response mea...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13638-3 |
| _version_ | 1818192873783296000 |
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| author | Elizabeth Wambui Kimani-Murage David Osogo Carolyn Kemunto Nyamasege Emmy Kageha Igonya David Otieno Ngira John Harrington |
| author_facet | Elizabeth Wambui Kimani-Murage David Osogo Carolyn Kemunto Nyamasege Emmy Kageha Igonya David Otieno Ngira John Harrington |
| author_sort | Elizabeth Wambui Kimani-Murage |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Globally, governments put in place measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Information on the effects of these measures on the urban poor is limited. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya in the context of government’s COVID-19 response measures and its impact on the human right to food. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in two informal settlements in Nairobi between January and March 2021. Analysis draws on eight focus group discussions, eight in-depth interviews, 12 key informant interviews, two photovoice sessions and three digital storytelling sessions. Phenomenology was applied to understand an individual’s lived experiences with the human right to food during COVID − 19. Thematic analysis was performed using NVIVO software. Results The human right to food was affected in various ways. Many people lost their livelihoods, affecting affordability of food, due to response measures such as social distancing, curfew, and lockdown. The food supply chain was disrupted causing limited availability and access to affordable, safe, adequate, and nutritious food. Consequently, hunger and an increased consumption of low-quality food was reported. Social protection measures were instituted. However, these were inadequate and marred by irregularities. Some households resorted to scavenging food from dumpsites, skipping meals, sex-work, urban-rural migration and depending on food donations to survive. On the positive side, some households resorted to progressive measures such as urban farming and food sharing in the community. Generally, the response measures could have been more sensitive to the human rights of the urban poor. Conclusions The government’s COVID-19 restrictive measures exacerbated the already existing vulnerability of the urban poor to food insecurity and violated their human right to food. Future response measures should be executed in ways that respect the human right to food and protect marginalized people from resultant vulnerabilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:37:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-21a9589e7f644404aec0ea75fa56732a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:37:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-21a9589e7f644404aec0ea75fa56732a2022-12-22T00:44:19ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-07-0122111510.1186/s12889-022-13638-3COVID- 19 and human right to food: lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya with the impacts of government’s response measures, a participatory qualitative studyElizabeth Wambui Kimani-Murage0David Osogo1Carolyn Kemunto Nyamasege2Emmy Kageha Igonya3David Otieno Ngira4John Harrington5Department of Nutrition and Food Systems; African Population and Health Research CenterDepartment of Nutrition and Food Systems; African Population and Health Research CenterDepartment of Clinical Trials and Clinical Epidemiology, University of TsukubaDepartment of Nutrition and Food Systems; African Population and Health Research CenterCardiff UniversityCardiff UniversityAbstract Background Globally, governments put in place measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Information on the effects of these measures on the urban poor is limited. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya in the context of government’s COVID-19 response measures and its impact on the human right to food. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in two informal settlements in Nairobi between January and March 2021. Analysis draws on eight focus group discussions, eight in-depth interviews, 12 key informant interviews, two photovoice sessions and three digital storytelling sessions. Phenomenology was applied to understand an individual’s lived experiences with the human right to food during COVID − 19. Thematic analysis was performed using NVIVO software. Results The human right to food was affected in various ways. Many people lost their livelihoods, affecting affordability of food, due to response measures such as social distancing, curfew, and lockdown. The food supply chain was disrupted causing limited availability and access to affordable, safe, adequate, and nutritious food. Consequently, hunger and an increased consumption of low-quality food was reported. Social protection measures were instituted. However, these were inadequate and marred by irregularities. Some households resorted to scavenging food from dumpsites, skipping meals, sex-work, urban-rural migration and depending on food donations to survive. On the positive side, some households resorted to progressive measures such as urban farming and food sharing in the community. Generally, the response measures could have been more sensitive to the human rights of the urban poor. Conclusions The government’s COVID-19 restrictive measures exacerbated the already existing vulnerability of the urban poor to food insecurity and violated their human right to food. Future response measures should be executed in ways that respect the human right to food and protect marginalized people from resultant vulnerabilities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13638-3COVID-19Response measuresRight to foodVulnerable populationsKenya |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth Wambui Kimani-Murage David Osogo Carolyn Kemunto Nyamasege Emmy Kageha Igonya David Otieno Ngira John Harrington COVID- 19 and human right to food: lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya with the impacts of government’s response measures, a participatory qualitative study BMC Public Health COVID-19 Response measures Right to food Vulnerable populations Kenya |
| title | COVID- 19 and human right to food: lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya with the impacts of government’s response measures, a participatory qualitative study |
| title_full | COVID- 19 and human right to food: lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya with the impacts of government’s response measures, a participatory qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | COVID- 19 and human right to food: lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya with the impacts of government’s response measures, a participatory qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID- 19 and human right to food: lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya with the impacts of government’s response measures, a participatory qualitative study |
| title_short | COVID- 19 and human right to food: lived experiences of the urban poor in Kenya with the impacts of government’s response measures, a participatory qualitative study |
| title_sort | covid 19 and human right to food lived experiences of the urban poor in kenya with the impacts of government s response measures a participatory qualitative study |
| topic | COVID-19 Response measures Right to food Vulnerable populations Kenya |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13638-3 |
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