Linkages between poverty and food insecurity in Pakistan: Evidence from urban and rural households in Peshawar

  • Zeeshan Kibria Khyber Medical University
  • Muhammad Nasim Khan Khyber Medical University
  • Saima Aleem Khyber Medical University
  • Zia Ul Haq Khyber Medical University
Keywords: Poverty, Dietary Diversity, Food Security, WASH, Households

Abstract

Objective: To assess household poverty, sanitation and hygiene practices, and food security in both urban and rural settlements of district Peshawar.

Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study from March 2019 to October 2019 in the urban and rural households of Peshawar, KPK. Using stratified random sampling, 554 households (HH) having children and young adolescents of age 5-19 years, adult men > 19 – 62 years, and adult women >19 - 62 years were included in this study. Data was collected using comprehensive tool comprised of all validated questionnaires and was analyzed using SPSS Version 24.0.

Results: Within the urban clusters, the maximum number of households (n=29) were from Gari Baloch and the minimum number of households (n=7) were from Gulberg. In the rural clusters, the maximum number of households surveyed (n=41) were from Lamara, minimum(n=21) was from Chargula. The average age of household heads was 44.5 ±12.5 with mean age slightly higher in urban areas (45.1 ±11.8) compared to 44.0 ±13.2 in rural areas. The mean poverty score was 56.8 (±11.6) with 72.1% non-poor households, and 94.2% households being food secure. Handwashing practices were highly prevalent among all the HH, however, handwashing practices before eating were comparatively lower in all HH (45.2%), lowest (37.8%) among rural households.

Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed both non-poor and food secure households with satisfactory water, hygiene and sanitation practices.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.2.7122

How to cite this: Kibria Z, Khan MN, Aleem S, Zia ul Haq. Linkages between poverty and food insecurity in Pakistan: Evidence from urban and rural households in Peshawar. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(2):479-484. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.2.7122

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published
2023-02-16
How to Cite
Kibria, Z., Nasim Khan, M., Aleem, S., & Zia Ul Haq. (2023). Linkages between poverty and food insecurity in Pakistan: Evidence from urban and rural households in Peshawar. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 39(2). https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.2.7122
Section
Original Articles