Browsing by Author "Webber, Sheree"

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    Assessing the effect of fluctuating food prices on the accessibility to nutritious foods by households in Senqu municipality in the Eastern Cape
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Webber, Sheree; Mbhenyane, Xikombiso Gertrude; van Rooyen, Carl Johan; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Global Health. Human Nutrition.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: Food insecurity is a problem that faces the individual, household, community and nation. To achieve sufficient food security, the four aspects of food security need to be achieved simultaneously. These aspects are availability of the food, access to the food, utilisation of the food once accessed, and stability of the supply to food. Studies have shown that South Africa has enough food available for the population, but not everyone has sufficient access to this food. Climate change, oil prices, transport costs and food prices all play important roles in achieving sufficient access to food security. Food prices have increased in South Africa and this will have an impact on whether access to sufficient food that promotes a healthy diet will be achieved. The study’s objectives included determining the food items affected by the price fluctuations during 2019-2020, determining the purchasing practices of the households and how they are affected by price fluctuations, determining the food preferences based on the Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs), and evaluating the effect of price fluctuations, purchasing practices and food preferences on nutritional adequacy. The study design used was an observational, descriptive cross-sectional design, and the data collected was quantitative. The data was collected using a questionnaire that was administered to the participants by fieldworkers. The food groups used in the questions were based on the (FBDGs), South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHNES), the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC)l and the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) reports. The questionnaire had a section for the Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Ethics approval for the study was obtained from the Stellenbosch University on the 25 September 2020 for data collection to take place in November 2020. Most households bought more starchy foods and less meat due to the fluctuating food prices of items. Households did not consume enough protein from animal sources to ensure a healthy balanced diet. It is recommended to ensure that education and support are given to grow the proper food gardens to promote a more varied diet. It is also recommended to educate consumers about more affordable foods the increase dietary diversity, like legumes as a protein source and traditional vegetables as well as the increased consumption of different forms of milk.