Associations between a cash voucher intervention, food consumption, and coping strategies in Somali food-insecure populations
Abstract Background This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between cash voucher assistance on building community resiliency and improving food security among 1371 households (HH) living in northern and southern regions of Somalia. The secondary data analysis used endline data fr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | Agriculture & Food Security |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-023-00458-w |
| _version_ | 1797273623080206336 |
|---|---|
| author | Theresa Fang Andy Tran Beryl Oranga Ryan Kopper Yunhee Kang |
| author_facet | Theresa Fang Andy Tran Beryl Oranga Ryan Kopper Yunhee Kang |
| author_sort | Theresa Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between cash voucher assistance on building community resiliency and improving food security among 1371 households (HH) living in northern and southern regions of Somalia. The secondary data analysis used endline data from participants in World Vision’s Emergency Food Security Program from May 2018 to May 2019. The participants received unconditional cash vouchers, conditional cash for work vouchers, and nutrition and livelihood trainings. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the association between program interventions and food consumption score (FCS, borderline/poor: 0–35, acceptable: > 35) and reduced coping strategy index (rCSI, acceptable: 0–3, emergency/crisis: 4–56). Results A total of 41.5% of all HH that received cash vouchers reported borderline/poor FCS and 71.1% had emergency/crisis rCSI. Utilization of vouchers for food purchase (0.34; 0.23, 0.51) and purchase of more types of food for greater dietary diversity (0.70; 0.55, 0.89) were negatively associated with acceptable FCS. Participants who redeemed cash vouchers were less likely to have an emergency/crisis rCSI (0.68; 0.61, 0.76). Utilization of cash vouchers had a positive association with increased conflict within the HH (2.90; 1.29, 6.48). Participants reporting benefits from improved community rehabilitation through increased check dams were more likely to have acceptable rCSI (2.37; 1.45, 3.89). Conclusions Our findings suggest that interventions utilizing cash vouchers have to consider contextual factors in calculations of voucher entitlements, increase investment in water management and livelihood skills training, and expand nutrition and livelihood trainings to men and boys to foster women empowerment and improve food security outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:47:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8ded2c04f874570a2e456e60fe7de3b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2048-7010 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:47:02Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture & Food Security |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8ded2c04f874570a2e456e60fe7de3b2024-03-05T19:56:07ZengBMCAgriculture & Food Security2048-70102024-02-011311810.1186/s40066-023-00458-wAssociations between a cash voucher intervention, food consumption, and coping strategies in Somali food-insecure populationsTheresa Fang0Andy Tran1Beryl Oranga2Ryan Kopper3Yunhee Kang4Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins UniversityBloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins UniversityWorld Vision U.S.World Vision U.S.Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins UniversityAbstract Background This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between cash voucher assistance on building community resiliency and improving food security among 1371 households (HH) living in northern and southern regions of Somalia. The secondary data analysis used endline data from participants in World Vision’s Emergency Food Security Program from May 2018 to May 2019. The participants received unconditional cash vouchers, conditional cash for work vouchers, and nutrition and livelihood trainings. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the association between program interventions and food consumption score (FCS, borderline/poor: 0–35, acceptable: > 35) and reduced coping strategy index (rCSI, acceptable: 0–3, emergency/crisis: 4–56). Results A total of 41.5% of all HH that received cash vouchers reported borderline/poor FCS and 71.1% had emergency/crisis rCSI. Utilization of vouchers for food purchase (0.34; 0.23, 0.51) and purchase of more types of food for greater dietary diversity (0.70; 0.55, 0.89) were negatively associated with acceptable FCS. Participants who redeemed cash vouchers were less likely to have an emergency/crisis rCSI (0.68; 0.61, 0.76). Utilization of cash vouchers had a positive association with increased conflict within the HH (2.90; 1.29, 6.48). Participants reporting benefits from improved community rehabilitation through increased check dams were more likely to have acceptable rCSI (2.37; 1.45, 3.89). Conclusions Our findings suggest that interventions utilizing cash vouchers have to consider contextual factors in calculations of voucher entitlements, increase investment in water management and livelihood skills training, and expand nutrition and livelihood trainings to men and boys to foster women empowerment and improve food security outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-023-00458-wFood securityCoping strategyInternally displaced persons (IDP)ConflictUnconditional cash vouchersConditional cash for work vouchers |
| spellingShingle | Theresa Fang Andy Tran Beryl Oranga Ryan Kopper Yunhee Kang Associations between a cash voucher intervention, food consumption, and coping strategies in Somali food-insecure populations Agriculture & Food Security Food security Coping strategy Internally displaced persons (IDP) Conflict Unconditional cash vouchers Conditional cash for work vouchers |
| title | Associations between a cash voucher intervention, food consumption, and coping strategies in Somali food-insecure populations |
| title_full | Associations between a cash voucher intervention, food consumption, and coping strategies in Somali food-insecure populations |
| title_fullStr | Associations between a cash voucher intervention, food consumption, and coping strategies in Somali food-insecure populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between a cash voucher intervention, food consumption, and coping strategies in Somali food-insecure populations |
| title_short | Associations between a cash voucher intervention, food consumption, and coping strategies in Somali food-insecure populations |
| title_sort | associations between a cash voucher intervention food consumption and coping strategies in somali food insecure populations |
| topic | Food security Coping strategy Internally displaced persons (IDP) Conflict Unconditional cash vouchers Conditional cash for work vouchers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-023-00458-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT theresafang associationsbetweenacashvoucherinterventionfoodconsumptionandcopingstrategiesinsomalifoodinsecurepopulations AT andytran associationsbetweenacashvoucherinterventionfoodconsumptionandcopingstrategiesinsomalifoodinsecurepopulations AT beryloranga associationsbetweenacashvoucherinterventionfoodconsumptionandcopingstrategiesinsomalifoodinsecurepopulations AT ryankopper associationsbetweenacashvoucherinterventionfoodconsumptionandcopingstrategiesinsomalifoodinsecurepopulations AT yunheekang associationsbetweenacashvoucherinterventionfoodconsumptionandcopingstrategiesinsomalifoodinsecurepopulations |