Food Security and Health Risk Behaviours in Selected African Countries During the First COVID-19 Lockdown
This research aimed at evaluating food security in three African populations during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the health risk associated with their lifestyle during the lockdown. An online questionnaire was used for this cross-sectional survey. Three African countries were selected – Cameroon...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AfricaJournals
2022-06-01
|
| Series: | African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_18_11_2_795-809.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811337180763652096 |
|---|---|
| author | Eridiong O. Onyenweaku Hema Kesa Alex K. Tchuenchieu |
| author_facet | Eridiong O. Onyenweaku Hema Kesa Alex K. Tchuenchieu |
| author_sort | Eridiong O. Onyenweaku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This research aimed at evaluating food security in three African populations during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the health risk associated with their lifestyle during the lockdown. An online questionnaire was used for this cross-sectional survey. Three African countries were selected – Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa. The questionnaire link was circulated electronically in the three countries via WhatsApp and emails using random and snowball sampling method. No glaring food security problem was observed in the surveyed population (818 respondents) which was mostly highly educated with stable monthly incomes, although Cameroon reported a higher number of respondents with monthly income <300USD. Generally, the food frequency results showed that
cooked vegetables, fruits and teas appeared as consumed frequently in South Africa but not Cameroon and Nigeria. In Nigeria, starchy meals such as white rice and yam were more consumed. A low consumption rate of processed/unhealthy foods and drinks was noticed in all 3 countries during this period. South Africa appeared as the country presenting the highest risk of NCDs resurgence due to physical inactivity, alcohol and tobacco consumption related to COVID-19 lockdown. Consumption of healthy diets should be encouraged and promoted by the relevant authorities during this pandemic, food security being a key target. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:51:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-286bc26307b546fa8c307c6b3b832b1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-814X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:51:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | AfricaJournals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure |
| spelling | doaj.art-286bc26307b546fa8c307c6b3b832b1d2022-12-22T02:36:42ZengAfricaJournalsAfrican Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure2223-814X2022-06-01112795809https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.258Food Security and Health Risk Behaviours in Selected African Countries During the First COVID-19 LockdownEridiong O. Onyenweaku0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6691-8269Hema Kesa1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1258-9145Alex K. Tchuenchieu2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2105-5030Food Evolution Research Laboratory, School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of JohannesburgFood Evolution Research Laboratory, School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of JohannesburgFood Evolution Research Laboratory, School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Centre for Food and Nutrition Research, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Yaounde, CameroonThis research aimed at evaluating food security in three African populations during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the health risk associated with their lifestyle during the lockdown. An online questionnaire was used for this cross-sectional survey. Three African countries were selected – Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa. The questionnaire link was circulated electronically in the three countries via WhatsApp and emails using random and snowball sampling method. No glaring food security problem was observed in the surveyed population (818 respondents) which was mostly highly educated with stable monthly incomes, although Cameroon reported a higher number of respondents with monthly income <300USD. Generally, the food frequency results showed that cooked vegetables, fruits and teas appeared as consumed frequently in South Africa but not Cameroon and Nigeria. In Nigeria, starchy meals such as white rice and yam were more consumed. A low consumption rate of processed/unhealthy foods and drinks was noticed in all 3 countries during this period. South Africa appeared as the country presenting the highest risk of NCDs resurgence due to physical inactivity, alcohol and tobacco consumption related to COVID-19 lockdown. Consumption of healthy diets should be encouraged and promoted by the relevant authorities during this pandemic, food security being a key target.https://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_18_11_2_795-809.pdffood securityfood consumptionncdscovid-19africa |
| spellingShingle | Eridiong O. Onyenweaku Hema Kesa Alex K. Tchuenchieu Food Security and Health Risk Behaviours in Selected African Countries During the First COVID-19 Lockdown African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure food security food consumption ncds covid-19 africa |
| title | Food Security and Health Risk Behaviours in Selected African Countries During the First COVID-19 Lockdown |
| title_full | Food Security and Health Risk Behaviours in Selected African Countries During the First COVID-19 Lockdown |
| title_fullStr | Food Security and Health Risk Behaviours in Selected African Countries During the First COVID-19 Lockdown |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food Security and Health Risk Behaviours in Selected African Countries During the First COVID-19 Lockdown |
| title_short | Food Security and Health Risk Behaviours in Selected African Countries During the First COVID-19 Lockdown |
| title_sort | food security and health risk behaviours in selected african countries during the first covid 19 lockdown |
| topic | food security food consumption ncds covid-19 africa |
| url | https://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_18_11_2_795-809.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eridiongoonyenweaku foodsecurityandhealthriskbehavioursinselectedafricancountriesduringthefirstcovid19lockdown AT hemakesa foodsecurityandhealthriskbehavioursinselectedafricancountriesduringthefirstcovid19lockdown AT alexktchuenchieu foodsecurityandhealthriskbehavioursinselectedafricancountriesduringthefirstcovid19lockdown |