Scholars have demonstrated that common ways of performing charitable food aid in high-income countries maintain a powerless and alienated status of recipients. Aiming to protect the dignity of... Show moreScholars have demonstrated that common ways of performing charitable food aid in high-income countries maintain a powerless and alienated status of recipients. Aiming to protect the dignity of recipients, alternative forms of food aid have taken shape. However, an in-depth understanding of dignity in the context of food aid is missing. We undertook a scoping review to outline ways in which the dignity of recipients is violated or protected across various forms of food aid in high-income countries. By bringing scientific results together through a social dignity lens, this paper offers a complex understanding of dignity in the context of food aid. The online database Scopus was used to identify scientific literature addressing food aid in relation to the dignity of recipients in high-income countries. The final selection included 37 articles representing eight forms of food aid in twelve countries. Across diverse forms of food aid, the selected studies report signs of (in)dignity concerning five dimensions: access to food aid, social interactions, the food, the physical space, and needs beyond food. Research gaps are found in the diversity of forms of food aid studied, and the identification of social standards important for recipients. Bringing the results of 37 articles together through a social dignity lens articulates the complex and plural ways in which the dignity of recipients is violated or protected. In addition, this review has demonstrated the usefulness of a social dignity lens to understand dignity across and in particular food aid contexts. Show less
Janssen, J.M.M.; Velde, L.A. van der; Kiefte-de Jong, J.C. 2022
Food insecurity is an important public health concern; however, research into this phenomenon within the Netherlands is limited. Food insecurity is not solely related to individual factors, but can... Show moreFood insecurity is an important public health concern; however, research into this phenomenon within the Netherlands is limited. Food insecurity is not solely related to individual factors, but can also be influenced by various factors in the social and physical environment. Therefore, this study aimed to identify determinants of food insecurity within the personal, social and physical environment, based on the social ecological model (SEM), and to identify their relative importance for experiencing food insecurity. The study population consisted of 307 participants living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods of the Dutch city The Hague, of which approximately one-quarter were food insecure. Participant characteristics showing bivariate associations P < 0.20 were placed in a predetermined level of the SEM, after which a multivariate logistic regression was performed for each level and the Nagelkerke pseudo R-2 was presented. Determinants of food insecurity were BMI, gross monthly income, highest educational attainment, smoking status, diet quality, employment status, marital status and religion (P < 0.05). The results showed that 29.7 % of the total variance in food insecurity status was explained by all included determinants together. The personal, social and physical environment explained 20.6, 14.0 and 2.4 % of the total variance, respectively. Our findings suggest that determinants within the personal environment are most important for explaining differences in experienced food insecurity. The present study contributes to furthering the knowledge about the relative importance of the personal, social and physical environment, indicating that determinants within the personal environment may be most promising for developing targeted interventions to reduce food insecurity. Show less
The overall aim of this thesis was to gain a clearer picture of the prevalence of food insecurity in the Netherlands and its consequences for dietary quality and health. The studies included in... Show moreThe overall aim of this thesis was to gain a clearer picture of the prevalence of food insecurity in the Netherlands and its consequences for dietary quality and health. The studies included in this thesis provide potential targets for interventions aimed at reducing food insecurity among affected people and families in the Netherlands.Based on this thesis, we can conclude that a considerable number of people in the Netherlands experience food insecurity. The findings described in this thesis provide insight into the consequences: food insecurity is associated with obesity, poor physical and mental health, and poor dietary quality. Our results also illuminate the role of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, psychosocial factors and the food environment in these associations. In addition, our findings offer a clearer understanding of the perceived needs, perceptions and barriers regarding healthy eating among people at risk of experiencing food insecurity, as well as suggesting potential interventions. This thesis has shown that the issue of food insecurity needs to be better recognized and addressed in the Netherlands, for example through the development and implementation of population-based and risk group-based interventions for which appropriate screening and targeted interventions should be further explored. Show less
A landlocked country in Central Africa, Chad has been involved in armed conflicts and civil war since independence in 1960. After the coup d’état in 1990, a certain stability prevailed under a... Show moreA landlocked country in Central Africa, Chad has been involved in armed conflicts and civil war since independence in 1960. After the coup d’état in 1990, a certain stability prevailed under a military democratic regime despite frequent rebels’ incursions, civil unrest, and violations of human rights. Over six decades, structural violence, insecurity, and oppression continue to hamper sociocultural, economic, educational and health improvements. Despite oil revenues and international investments into security and poverty reduction, Chad remains a highly fragile poor country with an alarming hunger situation. Its development is constrained by internal conflicts, instability of neighbouring countries, and perpetual threats by extremists. The weakness of infrastructures, public institutions and bad governance constrain the access of communities to basic goods, services, rights and means of livelihood.In rural areas, harassment and neglect by public authorities increase the vulnerabilities of households to food insecurity and conflicts. This research insighted into the long-term impacts of persistent violence on food production, social organization and access to health services in Guéra in central Chad. Rebels and government authorities exert political stress that is a major driver of sociocultural, demographic and economic change. These acts undermine spheres of livelihoods across the Sahelian region and needs attention. Show less
Velde, L.A. van der; Nyns, C.J.; Engel, M.D.; Neter, J.E.; Meer, I.M. van der; Numans, M.E.; Kiefte-de Jong, J.C. 2020
BackgroundFood insecurity is related to risk of adverse health outcomes such as obesity, but the explanatory factors underlying this association are still unclear. This study aimed to assess the... Show moreBackgroundFood insecurity is related to risk of adverse health outcomes such as obesity, but the explanatory factors underlying this association are still unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between food insecurity and obesity, and to explore potential mediation by sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 participants in a deprived urban area in the Netherlands. Data on sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, food insecurity status and diet quality were collected using questionnaires. Diet quality was determined based on current national dietary guidelines. BMI was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Regression analyses were performed to explore the association between food insecurity and BMI status. Mediation analyses were performed to estimate the total-, direct-, and indirect effect and proportion of total effect mediated of the food insecurity-obesity association.ResultsThe overall prevalence of food insecurity was 26%. Food insecurity was associated with obesity (OR=2.49, 95%CI=1.16, 5.33), but not with overweight (OR=1.15, 95%CI=0.54, 2.45) in the unadjusted model. The food insecurity-obesity association was partially mediated by living situation (proportion mediated: 15.4%), diet quality (-18.6%), and smoking status (-15.8%) after adjustment for other covariates.ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggest an association between food insecurity and obesity. Living situation, diet quality and smoking status explained part, but not all, of the total association between food insecurity and obesity. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to examine the temporal order of the food insecurity-obesity association and potential mediators in this relationship. In addition, food insecurity and its potential consequences need to be taken into account in obesity prevention programs and policies. Show less
