Dataset Information

Food Insecurity and Perceived Effects of COVID-19 on Livelihoods in Rural Sri Lanka.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected food security and livelihoods in Sri Lanka.

Objective

This article aims to assess food insecurity, perceived effects of COVID-19, and coping mechanisms among agriculture-based households in rural Sri Lanka.

Methods

We used 2 rounds of panel data from phone surveys (n = 1057 households) conducted in 5 districts. Food insecurity (30-day recall), perceived impacts of COVID-19 (6-month recall), and coping mechanisms (6-month recall) were assessed using a household questionnaire. To assess food insecurity, we used the 8-item Food Insecurity Experience Scale. We tested for differences between T1 (baseline: December 2020-February 2021) and T2 (follow-up: July 2021-September 2021) and explored the association between food insecurity and the perceived effect of COVID-19 on income using a logistic regression model.

Results

Food insecurity was highly prevalent (T1: 75%, T2: 80%) but varied across districts. Most respondents were affected by COVID-19 and/or COVID-19-associated mitigation measures (T1: 84%, T2: 89%). Among affected households, commonly reported impacts included those on income (T1: 77%, T2: 76%), food costs (T1: 84%, T2: 83%), and travel (∼90% in both rounds). Agricultural activities were also adversely affected (T1: 64%, T2: 69%). About half of COVID-19-affected households reported selling livestock or assets to meet basic needs. Households whose income was impacted by COVID-19 were more likely to be food insecure (adjusted odds ratio: 2.56, P < .001).

Conclusions

Households in rural Sri Lanka experienced food insecurity and livelihood disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional surveys are needed to assess recovery post-COVID-19 and to understand if programs that support livelihoods have been protective.

SUBMITTER: Singh N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10725086 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Food Insecurity and Perceived Effects of COVID-19 on Livelihoods in Rural Sri Lanka.

Singh Nishmeet N Scott Samuel S Kumar Neha N Ramani Gayathri G Marshall Quinn Q Sinclair Kate K Kalupahana Saman S Fernando Malika M Silva Renuka R Perera Amila A Jayatissa Renuka R Olney Deanna D

Food and nutrition bulletin 20230913 4

<h4>Background</h4>Little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected food security and livelihoods in Sri Lanka.<h4>Objective</h4>This article aims to assess food insecurity, perceived effects of COVID-19, and coping mechanisms among agriculture-based households in rural Sri Lanka.<h4>Methods</h4>We used 2 rounds of panel data from phone surveys (n = 1057 households) conducted in 5 districts. Food insecurity (30-day recall), perceived impacts of COVID-19 (6-month recall), and coping m ...[more]

PMID: 37700715

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Dataset Information

Food Insecurity and Perceived Effects of COVID-19 on Livelihoods in Rural Sri Lanka.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Food Insecurity and Perceived Effects of COVID-19 on Livelihoods in Rural Sri Lanka.

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