Dataset Information

Seasonal variation of food security among the Batwa of Kanungu, Uganda.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Climate change is projected to increase the burden of food insecurity (FI) globally, particularly among populations that depend on subsistence agriculture. The impacts of climate change will have disproportionate effects on populations with higher existing vulnerability. Indigenous people consistently experience higher levels of FI than their non-Indigenous counterparts and are more likely to be dependent upon land-based resources. The present study aimed to understand the sensitivity of the food system of an Indigenous African population, the Batwa of Kanungu District, Uganda, to seasonal variation.

Design

A concurrent, mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) design was used. Six cross-sectional retrospective surveys, conducted between January 2013 and April 2014, provided quantitative data to examine the seasonal variation of self-reported household FI. This was complemented by qualitative data from focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews collected between June and August 2014.

Setting

Ten rural Indigenous communities in Kanungu District, Uganda.

Subjects

FI data were collected from 130 Indigenous Batwa Pygmy households. Qualitative methods involved Batwa community members, local key informants, health workers and governmental representatives.

Results

The dry season was associated with increased FI among the Batwa in the quantitative surveys and in the qualitative interviews. During the dry season, the majority of Batwa households reported greater difficulty in acquiring sufficient quantities and quality of food. However, the qualitative data indicated that the effect of seasonal variation on FI was modified by employment, wealth and community location.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the role social factors play in mediating seasonal impacts on FI and support calls to treat climate associations with health outcomes as non-stationary and mediated by social sensitivity.

SUBMITTER: Patterson K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5197730 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Seasonal variation of food security among the Batwa of Kanungu, Uganda.

Patterson Kaitlin K Berrang-Ford Lea L Lwasa Shuaib S Namanya Didacus B DB Ford James J Twebaze Fortunate F Clark Sierra S Donnelly Blánaid B Harper Sherilee L SL

Public health nutrition 20160913 1

<h4>Objective</h4>Climate change is projected to increase the burden of food insecurity (FI) globally, particularly among populations that depend on subsistence agriculture. The impacts of climate change will have disproportionate effects on populations with higher existing vulnerability. Indigenous people consistently experience higher levels of FI than their non-Indigenous counterparts and are more likely to be dependent upon land-based resources. The present study aimed to understand the sens ...[more]

PMID: 27619162

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Dataset Information

Seasonal variation of food security among the Batwa of Kanungu, Uganda.

Objective

Design

Setting

Subjects

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Seasonal variation of food security among the Batwa of Kanungu, Uganda.

Similar Datasets

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