Food-related coping strategies against food insecurity among households in selected communities in South-East Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Due to the heightened food insecurity levels experienced in low-income settings, many households resort to adopt various coping strategies. This study assessed the household food insecurity status and coping strategies in selected communities in South East Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design and multi-stage sampling technique were used to select 1244 households from six local government areas in the municipal city centres of Abia and Imo State. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and CARE/World Food Program Coping Strategy Index protocol were used to collect data on food security and food-related coping mechanisms, respectively. IBM SPSS version 25.0 was used to analyse the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated, with p-values of < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The findings indicated that more than half of the respondents were occasionally or frequently concerned about food (59.8%), unable to eat their favourite foods (57.3%), subject to food restrictions (55.5%), consumed unwanted foods (54.4%), reduced meal portions (57.2%), and ate fewer meals (55.1%) as a result of lack of resources or money. This culminated in the severe, moderate and mild food insecurity levels among 15%, 48.2% and 24.0% of the respondents. These food insecurity level have prompted the frequent adoption of dietary modifications and food restrictions as coping mechanisms. Coping strategies and food insecurity were significantly correlated (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The majority of households used coping mechanisms that reduced the quantity and quality of their food, as food insecurity was widespread. This highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve food security and strengthen household resilience to adopt safer and more sustainable coping strategies under prevailing circumstances.