Food Security, Dietary Intake, and Foodways of Urban Low-Income Older South African Women: An Exploratory Study

Feyisayo A Odunitan-Wayas, Mieke Faber, Amy E Mendham, Julia H Goedecke, Lisa K Micklesfield, Naomi E Brooks, Dirk L Christensen, Iain J Gallagher, Kathryn H Myburgh, Angus M Hunter and Estelle V Lambert
Additional contact information
Feyisayo A Odunitan-Wayas: Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
Mieke Faber: Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
Amy E Mendham: Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
Julia H Goedecke: Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
Lisa K Micklesfield: Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
Naomi E Brooks: Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Dirk L Christensen: Section of Global Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark
Iain J Gallagher: Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Kathryn H Myburgh: Department of Physiological Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
Angus M Hunter: Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Estelle V Lambert: Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: This cross-sectional study explored the differences in sociodemographics, dietary intake, and household foodways (cultural, socioeconomic practices that affect food purchase, consumption, and preferences) of food secure and food insecure older women living in a low-income urban setting in South Africa. Women ( n = 122) aged 60–85 years old were recruited, a sociodemographic questionnaire was completed, and food security categories were determined. The categories were dichotomised into food secure (food secure and mild food insecurity) and food insecure (moderate and severe). A one-week quantified food frequency questionnaire was administered. Height and weight were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI, kg/m 2 ). Most participants (>90%) were overweight/obese, unmarried/widowed, and breadwinners with a low monthly household income. Food insecure participants (36.9%) more frequently borrowed money for food (57.8% vs. 39.0%, p = 0.04), ate less so that their children could have more to eat (64.4%. vs. 27.3%, p = 0.001), and had higher housing density (1.2 vs. 1.0, p = 0.03), compared to their food-secure counterparts. Overall, <30% of participants met the WHO (Geneva, Switzerland) recommended daily servings of healthy foods (fruits, vegetables, and dairy products), but >60% perceived that they consumed an adequate amount of healthy foods. The overall low-quality diet of our cohort was associated with poor nutritional perceptions and choices, coupled with financial constraints.

Keywords: older women; food-related decisions; coping strategies; well-being; nutrition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/3973/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/3973/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:3973-:d:533224

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().