Project overview
Background
West Africa has been described as a hotspot of climate change, experiencing rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events. Ghana is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly in the northern regions, due to heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture. High incidence of poverty, dependence on climate-sensitive activities for livelihoods and food supply, and underdevelopment mean that these ‘Last Mile’ (under-served and hard-to-reach) communities have less capacity to withstand climate shocks. This has the potential to threaten their food security and health.
Aim & Objectives
This research aimed to investigate the prevalence of household food insecurity, and whether adult residents perceive climate change to have had an impact on food insecurity and health in Mion (Northern Ghana).
Methods
A secondary data analysis was conducted using quantitative survey data (n=397) from a mixed-methods pilot study. Descriptive and summary statistics were performed, alongside Rasch modelling to analyse the prevalence of food insecurity using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Prevalences were then compared to national and global data from the Gallup World Poll 2020-2022. Multivariate regression identified significant predictors of food insecurity.
Main Results
The prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity is 61.5%, and the prevalence of severe food insecurity is 26.4%; these percentages are much higher than Ghana’s national (Pm+s = 39.4%, Ps = 6.2%) scores and global data (Pm+s = 29.5%, Ps = 11.3%). Nearly all (99.95%) reported that climate change was negatively affecting their household food supply, and 75.6% felt that climate change has already made a personal difference to their health. Larger households, 20–29-year-olds, unemployed individuals, and those who reported a weaker knowledge of climate change were found to experience significantly (p < 0.05) greater food insecurity.
Conclusions
Food insecurity is very high within this community, which participants feel is worsening due to climate change. The shocks and stresses of climate variability are also reported to have an impact on participants’ health. As climate change worsens, decision-makers should consider these Last Mile communities further, and the specific challenges that these rural, agriculture-dependent areas face to their nutrition and health.
West Africa has been described as a hotspot of climate change, experiencing rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events. Ghana is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly in the northern regions, due to heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture. High incidence of poverty, dependence on climate-sensitive activities for livelihoods and food supply, and underdevelopment mean that these ‘Last Mile’ (under-served and hard-to-reach) communities have less capacity to withstand climate shocks. This has the potential to threaten their food security and health.
Aim & Objectives
This research aimed to investigate the prevalence of household food insecurity, and whether adult residents perceive climate change to have had an impact on food insecurity and health in Mion (Northern Ghana).
Methods
A secondary data analysis was conducted using quantitative survey data (n=397) from a mixed-methods pilot study. Descriptive and summary statistics were performed, alongside Rasch modelling to analyse the prevalence of food insecurity using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Prevalences were then compared to national and global data from the Gallup World Poll 2020-2022. Multivariate regression identified significant predictors of food insecurity.
Main Results
The prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity is 61.5%, and the prevalence of severe food insecurity is 26.4%; these percentages are much higher than Ghana’s national (Pm+s = 39.4%, Ps = 6.2%) scores and global data (Pm+s = 29.5%, Ps = 11.3%). Nearly all (99.95%) reported that climate change was negatively affecting their household food supply, and 75.6% felt that climate change has already made a personal difference to their health. Larger households, 20–29-year-olds, unemployed individuals, and those who reported a weaker knowledge of climate change were found to experience significantly (p < 0.05) greater food insecurity.
Conclusions
Food insecurity is very high within this community, which participants feel is worsening due to climate change. The shocks and stresses of climate variability are also reported to have an impact on participants’ health. As climate change worsens, decision-makers should consider these Last Mile communities further, and the specific challenges that these rural, agriculture-dependent areas face to their nutrition and health.
Staff
Lead researcher
Research outputs
Jess Boxall, Braimah Abubakari, Bruce Ayabilla Abugri, Bright Yammaha Amoore, Maria Ayichuru, Natasha Fothergill-Misbah, Michael G. Head, Martin Kunc, Kennedy Miah, Victor Mogre, Eric Tweneboah, Jim Wright & Shamsu-Deen Ziblim,
2024
Type: report